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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Sport Fish and Wildlife
Restoration
Program Update September 2003
Including a Special Highlight
Section of Region 3
Cover photo: Horicon NWR, Wisconsin
Assistant Director’s Comments ........................................................................................................1
Regional Director, Region 3 Comments ..........................................................................................3
Staff Directory, Federal Assistance, Washington, D.C. Office ..................................................4
Federal Assistance Program - Overview........................................................................................5
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities ..................................................................................6
Joint Federal/State Task Force on Federal Assistance Policy ........................................6
Sport Fish Restoration Program ........................................................................................7
Sport Fish Restoration Program Reauthorization Update ............................................7
State Audits ..............................................................................................................................7
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program..............................................................................8
Federal Assistance Information Management System (FAIMS)..................................8
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation ..............9
New Survey Reports................................................................................................................9
Section 10 Hunter Education Program ............................................................................10
National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program ..........................................11
Multistate Conservation Grant Program ........................................................................11
Clean Vessel Act Pumpout Grant Program......................................................................13
State Wildlife Grants ............................................................................................................13
Landowner Incentive Program ..........................................................................................15
Federal Assistance National Training Program............................................................16
Appendix.............................................................................................................................................17
Director’s Order #152 ..............................................................................................................18
Director’s Order #156 ..............................................................................................................21
Special Highlight Section of Region 3 ..........................................................................................23
Table of
Contents
September 2003 1
Assistant
Director’s
Comments
Paul R.
Schmidt
In the Program Update March 2003, we
expressed our enthusiasm for many of the
changes occurring in the Federal Aid
Program. Progress in effecting these
changes continues and we are particularly
excited that the recruitment for the first-ever
Assistant Director-Wildlife and Sport
Fish Restoration has begun in earnest.
Also consistent with the Wildlife and
Sport Fish Restoration Programs
Improvement Act of 2000, you will notice
throughout this Program Update that the
program referred to in the past as Federal
Aid is now referred to as the Federal
Assistance Program.
As part of the continuing positive changes
occurring in Federal Assistance, we are
pleased to announce the addition of two
new staff members to the Federal
Assistance family in the Washington
Office along with the promotion of a third
individual. The first of these new staff
members is Mr. Jim Greer. Jim is the
new Deputy Division Chief for Federal
Assistance replacing Larry Bandolin.
Larry retired in August. Jim comes to
the Division with a variety of career
experiences in fish and wildlife
management, administration, and policy
development. His 26+ years with the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
culminated in his appointment as Director
of the Agency from 1997 to 2001. This
followed various positions in the agency
including Wildlife Division Chief, Regional
Assistant Supervisor, and District Wildlife
Biologist. Jim also served on the Pacific
Flyway Council for 8 years, was President
of the Western Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies, was Commissioner
for the Pacific States Marine Fish
Commission, and was a Board member of
the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation.
Two years ago, Jim joined the Service in
our Pacific Northwest Regional Office in
Portland as the Wildlife Branch Chief for
Federal Assistance.
The most recent addition to Federal
Assistance is Mr. Joshua Winchell. Joshua
served as Outdoor Ethics Program
Director for the Izaak Walton League of
America for three years. While with the
IWLA, Joshua’s focus was on promoting
responsible hunting and outdoor
recreation on public and private lands
nationwide. Joshua also has hands-on
experience in working with fish in various
field studies as a consultant and employee
of National Marine Fisheries Service.
Joshua will be a member of the Branch of
Grants Operations and Policy and will
focus on strengthening program ties with
the hunter and aquatic education and
shooting sports communities. We are very
excited about the addition of the talent
and experience that Jim and Joshua bring
with them to the Federal Assistance
Program. We are also pleased to announce
the promotion of Mr. Pat McHugh to the
position of Chief, Branch of Audits. Pat
has served as a Systems Accountant for
the Branch of Audits for two years. Pat’s
duties have included managing the audit
process, being a point of contact for
Regional and State fiscal staff, and
monitoring audit resolutions. Pat is a
Certified Public Accountant and prior to
coming to the Service was employed by an
accounting firm in Greeley, Colorado.
Other professional experience includes
working as a State revenue agent and a
staff auditor for a university internal audit
department.
Congratulations are also in order for
Chris McKay who has been responsible
for the Multistate Conservation Grant
Program while serving as a special
assistant to the Division Chief of Federal
Assistance. Chris was recently promoted
to Assistant Region Director in Region 1
for Migratory Birds and State Programs
located in Portland, Oregon. We wish
Chris the best of success as he begins his
new position in October.
The efforts of the Joint Federal/State
Task Force (JTF) on Federal Assistance
Policy (composed of Service and State fish
and wildlife agency personnel) have
already began to bear fruit. The first
products of the JTF were announced by
the Director in a memo to the Regions
dated July 25, 2003. That memo
transmitted Director’s Orders Nos. 152
and 156 (see Appendix). Director’s Order
No. 152 provides guidance on allowable
recreational activities and related facilities
on Federal Assistance lands. Director’s
Order No. 156 provides guidance for
making budget changes within a
nonconstruction grant funded under the
Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration
Programs. The next recommendations to
be forwarded to the Director from the
JTF are in regard to program income,
allowable commercial activities, and
Endangered Species Act Section 7
consultations. More details on the planned
activities of the JTF are presented later in
this Program Update.
Many positive changes continue to
brighten the future of the Federal
Assistance Program, such as the
implementation of the State Wildlife
Grants (SWG) and Landowner Incentive
Programs.
The Service provided 42 States with
Fiscal Year 2003 funds under the
competitive Landowner Incentive
Program earlier this year and the 60-day
Request for Proposals for Fiscal Year
2004 was published in the Federal
Register on Friday, August 15. This
spring, the Service cooperatively
conducted five Regional workshops within
a 10-week period to provide the States
with tools, resources, and approaches to
help them develop their SWG Plans. Over
200 persons representing 49 States
attended these workshops.
However, challenge is the constant
companion of change. We continue to work
closely with the American League of
Anglers and Boaters (ALAB) in
supporting their consensus position for
reauthorization of the Sport Fish
Restoration Program. ALAB provides the
unique forum for the Service, States, and
non-governmental organizations to work
together to foster a stronger base of
support for the Sport Fish Restoration
Program. Reauthorization of the Program
is essential for the continued funding of
popular programs such as the Boating
Infrastructure Grant Program, the Clean
Vessel Act Program, and the National
Outreach and Communications Program.
Also, preliminary information on gross
receipts for the Sport Fish Restoration
Program show a 4.9 percent increase over
last year’s collections; however, gross
receipts for the Wildlife Restoration
Program are down 4 percent. While
routine fluctuations in gross receipts can
be expected for either Program, we must
be concerned about the future of hunting
and fishing in America. As reported in the
Program Update March 2003, total
participation in all wildlife-related
recreation increased from 1996 to 2001
according to the most recent National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife
Associated Recreation, while participation
in fishing declined by 3 percent and
hunting by 7 percent. Most of the decline
in hunting is attributable to a reduction in
small game hunting and hunting for
raccoon, groundhogs, etc. classified as
“other animal hunting”.
We are confident that through the strong
partnerships we have with State fish and
wildlife agencies and other natural
resource conservation organizations,
these and other challenges will be met.
We will, together with our partners in the
public and private sectors, provide the
American sportsman and sportswoman,
and all outdoor enthusiasts, with
expanded opportunities to enjoy high
quality hunting, fishing, viewing, and
other wildlife associated recreational
experiences that will help secure the
future of these activities with the present
generation and those generations yet to
become “hooked on nature.”
Finally, we are excited to be providing
some extra information in this Program
Update. We are highlighting some of the
great work currently being accomplished
in Region 3 through the various programs
administered by the Division of Federal
Assistance. The following are comments
by Region 3 Regional Director Robyn
Thorson. Then, after the national update
of our Federal Assistance Program, this
Program Update will include some
specific project highlights from Region 3.
2 September 2003
All across the nation, there is recognition of
the outdoor traditions and abundant
recreational opportunities available in the
eight States of this Region. Working among
people who place a high value on fish and
wildlife resources makes my job, and those
of our State agency partners, both
rewarding and inspiring. Midwest outdoors
men and women share a passion for
hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependent
recreation that is unmatched
anywhere in the United States. According
to the Service’s 2001 National Survey of
Fishing, Hunting and Outdoor Recreation,
more than 44 million people in the eight
States that make up Region 3 either hunted
or fished in 2001. In Minnesota alone, an
astounding 39 percent of the State’s
population hunted or fished that year!
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is to conserve protect and enhance
fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for
the continuing benefit of the American
people. This important undertaking can
only be accomplished through close
partnerships with State agencies, non-governmental
organizations and the
support of conservation-minded individuals.
Individual partners include hunters,
anglers and other outdoors men and
women, true conservationists who have
long recognized the value of our fish and
wildlife resources and help make them
available for future generations. Through
their purchases of licenses and hunting and
fishing equipment, they provide funding for
conservation efforts that add significantly
to the quality of life we enjoy. The large
number of licensed hunters and anglers in
Region 3 yields the largest apportionment
of Federal Assistance dollars of any other
Service Region. In Fiscal Year 2003,
$52,909,734 in Sport Fish Restoration
funds, and $43,214,859 in Wildlife
Restoration funds were allocated to Region
3 States through our Federal Assistance
office. In recent years, Federal Assistance
grants have accounted for one-quarter to
one-third of many State fish and wildlife
management budgets. In today’s tight fiscal
environment, the importance of Federal
Assistance funds to State conservation
projects has become even more critical.
As Regional Director, I am committed to
the continued integrity and professional
administration of our Federal Assistance
Program. In order to work best together,
my goal for the Federal Assistance
Program is to listen to partners and focus
on the strengths of the partnerships. The
Federal and State commitment to fish and
wildlife resources is a bond, much stronger
and much more significant than our
differences. In addition to monies
distributed to States pursuant to the Sport
Fish Restoration and Wildlife Restoration
accounts, Federal Assistance has also been
administering a growing list of new and re-authorized
legislated programs such as:
Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and
Restoration; Landowner Incentive
Program; Section 6 of the Endangered
Species Act; Boating Infrastructure Grant
Program; State Wildlife Grants; and the
Clean Vessel Act Program. Although
smaller in terms of dollars, these grants
should not be overlooked as funding sources
to benefit our fish and wildlife resources.
In recent years, the Region 3 Federal
Assistance staff has assisted States with
traditional resource enhancement projects
such as the Lost Valley Fish Hatchery in
Missouri (the largest capital development
project in the history of the Federal
Assistance Program) and with emerging
challenges, such as chronic wasting disease.
In the years ahead State and Federal
conservation agencies will surely face new
challenges. Together, we will meet these
challenges in the spirit of cooperation that
has been the basis of our successful
partnership over the years. I look forward
to working with all of our State partners in
the years to come.
Lastly, please reference several Region 3
project highlights toward the end of this
Program Update. These highlights outline
some of the fantastic work being done in
our Region.
Robyn Thorson
Regional Director,
Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
September 2003 3
Regional Director
Region 3
Comments
Robyn
Thorson
Welcome to the Midwest, the
heart of America and home of
Region 3, the Great Lakes –
Big Rivers Region of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Staff Directory
Federal
Assistance
Washington DC
Office
Federal Assistance Main Phone Number
703/358 2156
Web Address
http://federalaid.fws.gov
Kris E. LaMontagne, Division Chief
Doug Gentile, Civil Rights Coordinator for
Public Access
Jim Greer, Deputy Division Chief -
Operations
Jimmye Kane, Lead Secretary
Pam Matthes, Financial/Program Analyst
Vacant, Secretary
Branch of Budget and Administration
Tom Jeffrey, Branch Chief - Budget
Development and Execution - Program
Management
Mary Jones, Administrative Officer
Linda Muhammad, Program Support
Assistant
Tracey Vriens, Program Analyst
Branch of Information Management
Bill Conlin, Branch Chief - Information
Management - ADP Support - FAIMS
Dale Beaumariage, FAIMS Help Desk,
Grant Administration Training
Lorinda Bennett, Fiscal Management -
Audit Liaison
Ed Duda, System Developer
Jake Goodall, System Developer
Jeffrey Graves, Server Support - Web Site
Support
Pete Hitchcock, Network Engineer,
Security Officer
C. J. Huang, Database Administrator
Sandie Lehberger, Administrative
Technician
David Washington, ADP Systems Support -
ADP Acquisition Support
Debbie Wircenske, Help Desk and Fiscal
Administration Training
Luther Zachary, FAIMS Team Leader
Branch of Grants Operations and Policy
Gary Reinitz, Branch Chief - National Issue
Management
Brian Bohnsack, Sport Fish Restoration
Program - Coastal Wetlands - Clean
Vessel Program - Boating Infrastructure
Grant Program - Regions 1 & 2
Kim Galvan, Regulations - U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Manual Chapters -
Section 6 Grants - Regions 4 & 7
Tim Hess, Wildlife Restoration Program -
Landowner Incentive Program - State
Wildlife Grants - Regions 3 & 5
Joshua Winchell, Regulations - Education
Liaison - Region 6
Branch of Audits
Pat McHugh, Branch Chief - Audits
Ord Bargerstock, Systems Accountant -
Regions 4 & 5 - Audit Resolution
Kate Gilliam, Systems Accountant -
Regions 1 & 2 - Lessons Learned -
Future Audit Plans
Vacant, Systems Accountant - Regions 3,
6, & 7 - Audit Program Oversight
Branch of Surveys
Sylvia Cabrera, Branch Chief - National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-
Associated Recreation
Richard Aiken, Economist - National
Survey
Genevieve Pullis, Economist - National
Survey
Branch of Training
Steve Leggans, Branch Chief
Julie Schroyer, Administrative Analyst
Blake Weirich, Assistant Training
Coordinator
Intergovernmental Personnel Act
(IPA) Agreement
Lanny Moore, On IPA between the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and the
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies
This one-year IPA will allow Lanny to
pursue full-time the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS), Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF), and
Customs Working Group initiatives. The
main goal of the group is to ensure that
the States receive all funds they are due
from these agencies in a timely and
accurate manner. Through displays,
workshops, and seminars, Lanny will
conduct training for all IRS, BATF, and
Customs staff who are involved in the
paying, collecting, accounting, and
transferring of funds.
4 September 2003
The goal of the Federal Assistance
Program is to work with States to
conserve, protect, and enhance fish,
wildlife, their habitats and the hunting,
sportfishing, and recreational boating
opportunities they provide. The Federal
Assistance Program is responsible for
administering the following Programs:
n Wildlife Restoration
n Sport Fish Restoration
n Clean Vessel Act
n Boating Infrastructure Grant
n National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant
n Multistate Conservation Grant
n State Wildlife Grants
n Landowner Incentive
In addition, Federal Assistance provides
grant management support for
endangered species traditional section 6,
Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land
Acquisition, HCP Planning, and Recovery
Land Acquisition Grant Programs.
The following is an update on the
activities of the Federal Assistance
Program and these grant programs.
September 2003 5
Federal
Assistance
Program
Overview
Joint Federal/State Task Force on
Federal Assistance Policy
As reported in the Program Update
March 2003, the Joint Federal/State Task
Force on Federal Assistance Policy (JTF)
was created to provide a forum to
cooperatively identify Program issues of
national significance and to develop jointly
recommendations concerning those
issues. The JTF is composed of seven
State fish and wildlife agency and seven
Service personnel along with two lawyers
(one State and one Federal).
The first products of the JTF were
announced by the Director in a memo to
the Regions dated July 25, 2003. That
memo transmitted Director’s Orders Nos.
152 and 156 (see Appendix). Copies of
these Director’s Orders can also be
viewed and retrieved from the Service’s
Policy and Directives Management web
page located at http://policy.fws.gov/do.
html. Director’s Orders are listed in
numerical order on this web page.
Director’s Order No. 152 provides
guidance on allowable recreational
activities and related facilities on Federal
Assistance lands. Director’s Order No.
156 provides guidance for making budget
changes within a nonconstruction grant
funded under the Sport Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Programs. The JTF
distributed initial drafts of these
Director’s Orders to the Service Regions
and State fish and wildlife agencies for
comment this past winter. The draft
recommendations were then revised
taking into consideration comments
received. The final recommendations of
the JTF, along with a summary of the
comments, were then submitted to the
Director this spring. After reviewing the
recommendations of the JTF, the Director
adopted them in substantial form and
issued these policy statements as
Director’s Orders.
The most recent meeting of the JTF was
in Missoula, Montana, on August 5
through 7. At this meeting the JTF
reviewed comments received from the
Service Regions and State fish and
wildlife agencies on the following draft
policy statements:
1. Program Income from Federal
Assistance Grants;
2. Allowable Commercial Activities and
Related Facilities on Federal Assistance
Lands; and
3. Guidance for Conducting Endangered
Species Act Section 7 Consultations on
Federal Assistance Grants to States.
Recommendations of the JTF regarding
these three issues will next be forwarded
to the Director.
In addition to these topics, the JTF also
discussed:
1. Useful Life of Capital Improvements;
2. Cash Management Improvement Act;
3. Use of Sport Fish Restoration Funds
for Boating Access; and
4. Homeland Security.
The next meeting of the JTF will be held
in Madison, Wisconsin, in October 2003.
At this meeting, the issues of Cost
Accounting and Reporting, Useful Life,
Boating Access, and Homeland Security
will be further discussed.
For additional information on the JTF,
please contact Gary Reinitz.
6 September 2003
Focus on Specific
Programs and
Activities
Sport Fish Restoration Program
The Service will soon announce the
preliminary apportionments from the
Sport Fish Restoration Program for
Fiscal Year 2004. Final apportionments
will be issued in the spring of 2004 after
the total receipts into the Sport Fish
Restoration Account are calculated for
Fiscal Year 2003 and the status of other
Sport Fish Restoration programs is
determined for Fiscal Year 2004. Funding
authorization of several Sport Fish
Restoration programs expires at the end
of Fiscal Year 2003 unless Congress acts
to extend their authorization. These
programs include the Service’s National
Outreach and Communications Program,
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program
and Clean Vessel Act Program, as well as
the U.S. Coast Guard’s Recreational
Boating Safety Program.
If Congress does not reauthorize these
programs, the Sport Fish Restoration
Program and National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant Program will be the
primary programs funded from the Sport
Fish Restoration Account.
Recent Program highlights include the
selection of the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resource’s Baraboo River dam
removal and river restoration project as
the 2003 Sport Fishery Development and
Management Project of the Year by the
American Fisheries Society’s Fisheries
Administrators Section. The Section also
provided awards to the Mississippi
Department of Natural Resources and
the New Hampshire Fish and Game
Department for their fisheries research
and aquatic education efforts, respectively.
The total apportionment for Fiscal Year
2003 for the Sport Fish Restoration
Program was $265,241,214.
For more information on this issue, please
contact Brian Bohnsack.
September 2003 7
Sport Fish Restoration
Program Reauthorization Update
The American League of Anglers and
Boaters (ALAB) continues to lead efforts
for the reauthorization of Sport Fish
Restoration programs. ALAB, a large
consortium of conservation and recreation
agencies which includes groups such as
the American Sportfishing Association,
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies, National Association of
Boating Law Administrators, American
Recreation Coalition, and States
Organization for Boating Access, reached
a consensus position for reauthorization
of programs funded by the Sport Fish
Restoration Program earlier this year.
ALAB’s consensus position for
reauthorization will fundamentally change
the program funding process from the
Aquatic Resources Trust Fund. Under the
ALAB proposal, all of the programs
funded from the Aquatic Resources Trust
Fund and the accompanying Sport Fish
Restoration Account will be based on
preset percentages of the overall account.
Previously, several programs received
predetermined funding amounts.
Accordingly, funding for some programs
had risen considerably since the previous
reauthorization, while the funding level of
those programs with predetermined
appropriations remained stable.
In addition to seeking reauthorization of
all of the current programs funded by the
Sport Fish Restoration Program, ALAB’s
consensus proposal recommends 1) to
dissolve the Boating Safety Account,
2) to extend the Federal excise tax on
motorboat fuels and on small engine fuels,
3) to guarantee funding for the U.S. Coast
Guard’s Recreational Boating Safety
Program and to alter the required State
match for this program to the 75 percent
Federal share and 25 percent State share
that is currently used with other
programs funded by the Sport Fish
Restoration Program. ALAB is also
separately seeking full recovery of the tax
on recreational boating fuels. Some of the
existing taxes on recreational boating
fuels are currently being deposited into
other accounts.
In order to be passed by Congress,
ALAB’s reauthorization proposal will
have to be incorporated into the
SAFETEA Highway bill or other bills as
an amendment. Accordingly, ALAB is
currently seeking Congressional support
for their proposal and also Congressional
sponsors for the proposed amendment.
The current SAFETEA Highway bill
proposes “status quo” funding of the
programs funded by the Sport Fish
Restoration Program. At this time, it
appears that reauthorization of the
programs funded by the Sport Fish
Restoration Program is not likely to occur
until early 2004 at the earliest. Because
funding authorization for several
programs expires at the end of the Fiscal
Year 2003, ALAB and other groups are
working on stop gap measures to ensure
that these programs are funded at status
quo levels for Fiscal Year 2004. Programs
whose authorization funding authorization
expires at the end of Fiscal Year 2003
include the Service’s National Outreach
and Communications Program, Clean
Vessel Act Pumpout Grant Program,
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program,
and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Recreational
Boating Safety Program.
State Audits
The Service published six audit chapters
in the Federal Register for comment in
December 2001. Modifications were
incorporated into the Chapters in
November 2002 as recommended by the
Director’s Joint Federal/State Task Force
on Federal Assistance Second Audit
Cycle. Upon the completion of the
Service’s internal review process, the
chapters will be published in the Federal
Register. The final chapters will become
part of the Service’s Manual. The chapters
establish policy and responsibilities for
grantee audits, define terms associated
with audits, and provide an overview of
the audit process. In addition, they
establish policies and procedures for
audit objectives, planning, conducting,
reporting, resolution, and appeals. The
establishment of these policies and
procedures will enhance the ongoing
audit process.
Chapter 1 provides terms associated with
audits and an overview of the audit
process. Chapter 2 identifies the
programmatic and financial elements of
audits. Chapter 3 provides procedures for
conducting and reporting on audits of
Federal Assistance Program grantees.
Chapter 4 establishes policy and
procedures for resolving findings and
implementing recommendations. Included
in this chapter are time-lines of the audit
resolution process. Chapter 5 establishes
policy and procedures for appealing
Service determinations or corrective
actions. Chapter 6 establishes Service
policy for resolving findings and
implementing recommendations from
audits of Federal Assistance Program
grantees under the Single Audit Act. The
audit chapters will enhance the Service’s
ability to complete audits in a timely
manner.
For additional information on this issue,
please contact Pat McHugh.
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program
The funding status of the Boating
Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program for
Fiscal Year 2004 and beyond is not certain
at this time. Funding authorization for the
BIG Program expires at the end of Fiscal
Year 2003. The BIG Program needs to be
reauthorized by Congress in order to be
funded in future years. The American
League of Anglers and Boaters (ALAB)
supports reauthorization of the Program
and has lobbied Congress accordingly, as
well as for other Sport Fish Restoration
programs. Under the ALAB proposal, the
BIG Program will receive 1.9 percent of
the total receipts into the Sport Fish
Restoration Account. Based on estimates
of predicted receipts into this account,
funding for the BIG Program would
increase to approximately $10 million
annually.
The Service is hopeful that the BIG
Program will be reauthorized in time to
allow its Fiscal Year 2004 grant process to
occur as scheduled. To avoid delays with
project implementation, the Service has
requested proposals from States for the
BIG Program and proposals are due in to
the Service’s Regional Offices in late
September. Awards, if any, from the BIG
Program will be dependent upon its
authorization from Congress. A minimal
amount of funding may be available from
funds recovered from projects that were
awarded in previous years.
8 September 2003
The vessel Shirley J tries out the new docks at the St. Helens Courthouse docks in Oregon that were funded
with assistance from the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG). The Oregon State Marine Board
recently completed the first three Tier-2 Boating Infrastructure Grant Programs in the nation.
Photo: Oregon State Marine Board.
The Oregon State Marine Board recently
completed the first 3 of the Tier-2 BIG
projects in the nation on the Columbia
River system. Several States are now
completing Tier-1 level projects, including
those completed by the Missouri
Department of Conservation in the Ozark
River system.
For more information on this issue, please
contact Brian Bohnsack.
Federal Assistance Information
Management System (FAIMS)
FAIMS is critical to the reconciliation of
grant related fiscal information that exists
in systems operated by the Department of
Health and Human Services, the Division
of Federal Assistance, and the Division of
Finance. The checks and balances built
into FAIMS ensure the integrity of
Federal Assistance’s fiscal data as
confirmed by the audit firm KPMG.
In Fiscal Year 2004 Federal Assistance
Program emphasis for FAIMS will be
placed on:
n Interfacing FAIMS with the Federal
government’s new www.grants.gov web
site. The grants.gov site will provide
grant opportunity announcements and
electronic application capabilities to
grant applicants for all grant programs.
An interface will be developed through
which FAIMS will retrieve applications
submitted via the grants.gov web site.
n Consolidating the FAIMS databases.
Modifications required to combine the
eight physically separate FAIMS
databases into one will be completed
and the databases will be combined.
Combining the databases will reduce
operational overhead and reduce the
complexity of electronically interfacing
FAIMS with the grants.gov web site.
n Modernizing the interface between
FAIMS and the Payment Management
System (PMS). The FAIMS will be
modified to utilize a new “Drop Box”
interface methodology being developed
by the Department of Health and
Human Services. Implementation will
increase security and facilitate complete
automation of the data flows between
the two systems.
n Developing training methods and
materials for users of the iFAIMS web
site. The distributed nature of the user
community of the iFAIMS web site
requires development of new training
methods and materials for site users.
For more information on this issue, contact
Bill Conlin or Luther Zachary.
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting,
and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
The 2001 Survey was the 10th sponsored
by the Service since 1955. The Service has
conducted the Survey every five years at
the request of State fish and wildlife
agencies, and it has become one of the
Nation’s most important sources of
information on wildlife-related recreation.
In response to concerns from its
members, IAFWA is reviewing other
options for the funding and completion of
future national surveys. IAFWA will make
their recommendation for the 2006 survey
at their National Conference in
September 2003.
In March 1999, the Survey Grants-in-Aid
Subcommittee of the International
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
(IAFWA) recommended that the Service
conduct a survey in 200l. In June 1999,
the Service signed an agreement with
the Bureau of Census (Census) to collect
the information and produce the reports.
Service staff met with State technical
committee members and non-governmental
organizations to determine
survey content. Federal agencies and
other major survey users also provided
input.
In April and May 2001, Census conducted
the screening interviews. Census collected
information through computer-assisted
interviews conducted primarily by
telephone. They completed screening
interviews of over 52,000 households.
September 2003 9
These interviews identified samples of
30,000 sportsmen (anglers and hunters)
and 15,000 wildlife watchers (wildlife
feeders, observers, and photographers) for
the Survey’s detailed interview phase.
Census asked respondents about their
2001 activities and expenditures in three
detailed interview waves beginning in
April and September 2001 and in January
2002. Interviewers completed data
collection on February 28, 2002. The
response rate for the detailed data
collection phase was about 90 percent.
In 2001, 82 million U.S. residents, 39
percent of the population 16 years and
older, participated in some type of wildlife-related
recreation. Five million more
participated in 2001 than in 1996, the last
time the survey was conducted. Anglers,
hunters, and wildlife watchers spent $108
billion pursuing their activities. These
expenditures accounted for 1.1 percent of
the Nation’s total gross domestic product.
Of the sportsmen, 34 million fished and
13 million hunted. Sixty-six million
wildlife enthusiasts observed, fed or
photographed wildlife around their homes
or on trips in 2001.
A comparison of 2001 and 1996 estimates
shows a mixed picture. While total
participation in all wildlife-related
recreation increased, participation in
fishing declined by 3 percent and hunting
by 7 percent The decrease in hunting was
due to a decline in small game hunting and
other animal hunting (raccoon, groundhog,
etc.). Big game hunting and migratory
bird hunting held steady. Wildlife watching
increased by 5 percent from 1996 to 2001.
The Service began releasing preliminary
information in May 2002. The final
National Report and Quick Facts brochure
were issued in early October 2002, and the
State Reports were issued on a flow basis
beginning in January 2003. A CD-ROM
with all the survey data is available on
request. Copies of the reports are
available on request or are accessible
through the following web site:
http://federalaid.fws.gov/.
For more information on this issue, contact
Sylvia Cabrera.
New Survey Reports
The Service recently released the
following two reports on wildlife watching
in the U.S. and its benefits to the economy:
Birding in the United States, A
Demographic Economic Analysis, and
2001 National and State Economic
Impacts of Wildlife-Associated
Recreation. Both reports are based on
information from the 2001 National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife
Watching.
Birding in the United States reports
the popularity of bird watching, the
characteristics of birders, and the
economic importance of the activity.
Some highlights are as follows:
n In 2001 there were 46 million birders
(16 years of age and older) in the United
States –– a little over one in five people.
n The average birder tends to be middle-aged,
and has a higher than average
income and education. The vast majority
(94 percent) of birders identified
themselves as white although Native
Americans had participation rates
nearly equal to whites.
n Measured in terms of State residents
participating, Montana, Vermont, and
Wisconsin had the highest participation
rates. But when measured in terms of
sheer numbers, the highly populated
States of California, Pennsylvania,
Texas, and Florida had the most
birders.
n In one year (2001) birders spent $32
billion dollars on their hobby. This figure
includes: binoculars and gear; travel
costs and food; and big-ticket items such
as canoes, cabins and off-road vehicles
(ORVs).
This spending generated $85 billion in
overall economic output and created
863,406 jobs.
n Birders place a high value on their
activity. The report found that the net
economic value for birding (in State of
residence) is $257 per year and $35 per
day.
The Economic Impacts of Wildlife
Watching reports the effects of
expenditures for wildlife watching on
National and State economies. For
example, 66 million wildlife watchers
spent $38 billion on their equipment, trips,
and other items in 2001. If wildlife
watching were a company, its sales of
$38.4 billion would rank it 33rd in the
Forbes 500 list for 2001— placing it just
ahead of Motorola and Kmart.
Furthermore, those expenditures resulted
in a total industry output valued at $96
billion, over one million jobs, $28 billion in
employment income, and $6 billion in
Federal and State tax revenues.
What do wildlife watchers spend their
money on? In 2001, they spent 21 percent
for wildlife-watching trips, including
transportation, lodging, etc.; 61 percent
for equipment including items such as
cameras, bird food, campers, and tents;
and the balance; 17 percent, on magazines,
membership dues, and land leasing and
ownership.
State economies benefitted tremendously
from wildlife-watching expenditures.
Twelve States derived 1 percent or more
of their total economic gross product from
the impacts of those expenditures.
These two reports, as well as other survey
reports, may be accessed from the
following website http://federalaid.fws.
gov.
For additional information on these
reports, contact Sylvia Cabrera.
Section 10 Hunter Education Program
With the passage of the Wildlife and Sport
Fish Restoration Programs Improvement
Act of 2000, many State wildlife agencies
have enhanced their hunter education
programs to take advantage of the
additional funding this Act provided. The
Service has made an additional $23 million
of funds available for the hunter education
program since the passage of this Act.
Fiscal Year 2003 was the third year that
section 10 funding has been available.
As a result of their increased hunter
10 September 2003
education efforts, in Fiscal Year 2003, 24
State wildlife agencies were eligible to
receive additional reverted section 10 Funds
from other States not expending their
entire section 10 funds. These States
received portions of the $254,683 that was
reverted back from the States not spending
their entire initial section 10 allocation from
previous fiscal years.
Some notable successes of the section 10
funded projects to date include:
1) increased numbers of hunter education
classes being offered, 2) increased numbers
of State agency staff devoted to the hunter
education program, and 3) enhanced
services and support to volunteer hunter
education instructors.
The Act’s supporters designed the
legislation with incentives for States to
increase their hunter education program
expenditures. A preliminary analysis of
States’ hunter education program
expenditures by the Service suggests that
the legislation has been implemented as
intended. In Fiscal Year 2002, 22 States
were eligible to receive reverted Section 10
funds. By comparison, in Fiscal Year 2003,
24 States were eligible. Similarly, in Fiscal
Year 2002 $601,501 of section 10 funds were
reverted. By Fiscal Year 2003, the total
reverted section 10 funds was only $254,683.
For additional information, contact Joshua
Winchell.
Yellow-crowned night heron. Photo: USFWS
Economic Output* Wildlife Watchers
California $5,169,100,000 5,720,000
Florida $2,815,400,000 3,240,000
New York $2,625,300,000 3,887,000
Texas $2,455,900,000 3,240,000
Wisconsin $2,453,600,000 2,442,000
New Jersey $2,264,700,000 1,895,000
Pennsylvania $1,955,200,000 3,794,000
Washington $1,781,500,000 2,496,000
Maryland $1,772,900,000 1,524,000
North Carolina $1,593,900,000 2,168,000
*Total industry output which includes direct, indirect, and induced effects of wildlife-watching
expenditures.
The ten States whose wildlife-watching expenditure output ranked the highest were:
September 2003 11
National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant Program
The Service will announce the awards
recipients for the Fiscal Year 2004
National Coastal Wetlands Conservation
Grant Program (NCWCGP) in the coming
weeks. Thirty proposals from 13 States
requesting a total of $23.9 million in
Federal funding were received this year.
The Service estimates that a minimum of
$12.6 million will be available from this
program in Fiscal Year 2004.
This amount is likely to be substantially
more pending final determination of the
deposits into the Sport Fish Restoration
Account.
A national panel of personnel from several
Service divisions reviewed all of the
proposals received. The panel met for two
days in early August to rank proposals.
The panel has provided a list of projects
recommended for funding to the Director.
Since the inception of NCWCGP in 1990,
a total of $120 million has been awarded
to 25 States and 1 U.S. Territory. It is
estimated that 150,000 coastal wetlands
acres will have been protected or restored
since its inception.
For more information on this issue,
contact Brian Bohnsack.
Multistate Conservation
Grant Program
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration
Programs Improvement Act of 2000
(Improvement Act) established the
Multistate Conservation Grant Program
within the Sport Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Programs. The Improvement
Act authorizes grants of up to $3 million
annually from funds available under each
of the Programs, for a total of up to $6
million annually. Grants may be made
from a priority list of projects submitted
by the International Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA),
representing the State fish and wildlife
agencies.
To be eligible for consideration by the
IAFWA, a project must benefit fish and/or
wildlife conservation in at least 26 States,
a majority of the States in a Fish and
Wildlife Service Region, or a regional
association of State fish and wildlife
agencies. Grants may be made to a State
or group of States, to non-governmental
organizations, and, for the purpose of
carrying out the National Survey of
Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated
Recreation.
The priority list of projects submitted by
the IAFWA for funding in Fiscal Year
2003 included these 25 projects (see the
list on the next page) from which the
Division made grant awards beginning
February 1, 2003.
Representatives of the States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA), sewage pumpout manufacturers,
and staff from Underwriters Laboratories Incorporated (UL) inspect the sewage pumpout machines that
are being tested by UL. Funding for this SOBA project is being provided through the Multistate
Conservation Grant Program. Photo: Kevin Atkinson, California Department of Boating and Waterways.
Coastal wetlands, such as this one in Texas,
provide important habitat for many species of fish
and wildlife. Coastal wetlands also help to reduce
the destruction from tropical storms and
hurricanes. Photo: Beau Hardegree, USFWS
12 September 2003
Multistate Conservation Grants Proposals Awarded in Fiscal Year 2003
Project Title Recipient Wildlife Funds Sport Fish Funds
(in dollars) (in dollars)
Wildlife Values in the West Western Association of Fish & 223,961 223,961
Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA)
Step Outside National Shooting Sports Foundation 92,600 92,600
Becoming an Outdoors Woman University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 93,050 93,050
Women in the Outdoors National Wild Turkey Federation 77,500 77,500
The Trailblazer Adventure Program U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation 80,000 80,000
Automated Wildlife Data Systems IAFWA Automated Wildlife Data 81,840 81,840
Program Coordination Systems Task Force
Adaptive Outdoor Recreation Equipment Paralyzed Veterans of America 44,000 ..........
Measuring Public Opinion of Fish and Northeast Conservation Information 175,000 175,000
Wildlife Agencies in 13 Northeast States & Education Association
Continued Support for State “Hooked on Future Fisherman Foundation .......... 51,500
Fishing–Not on Drugs” Programs
The Northern Bobwhite Conservation SEAFWA and SC DNR 225,000 ..........
Initiative: Moving the Plan Forward
Chronic Wasting Disease Prevention and IAFWA Wildlife Health Task Force 357,500 ..........
Management Planning
Fish & Wildlife Reference Service: KRA Corporation 249,779 249,779
Managing and Providing Information to
State Agencies
Evaluation of the Fish and Wildlife Virginia Polytechnic Institute & 20,356 20,356
Reference Service State University
Data Management Support for the Chronic Virginia Polytechnic Institute & 92,154 ..........
Wasting Disease Initiative State University
Unwanted Aquatic Species: A Three-Year IAFWA Fisheries & Water Resources .......... 391,840
Project to Address State, Regional and Policy Committee
National Aquatic Invasive Species Issues
Conservation Communication Team IAFWA Education, Outreach & Diversity Committee 114,000 114,000
National 4-H Sportfishing Initiative Future Fisherman Foundation .......... 150,623
Creating Master Naturalist Programs Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 97,325 97,325
National Hunting Incident Clearinghouse International Hunter Education Association 66,800 ..........
Wildlife Law News Weekly Alert and Center for Wildlife Law at the University of 40,500 40,500
Online Services New Mexico Institute of Public Law
Management Assistance Team 2003-2004
IAFWA
Sage Grouse Data Management: Making WAFWA Sage Grouse and Columbian Sharp- 27,800 ..........
States’ Data Available to Conservation tailed Grouse Technical Committee
Planning Teams
Bird Conservation for the Nation: IAFWA Bird Conservation Committee 214,520 ..........
Support for State All-Bird Conservation Efforts
Assessing Ownership, Use and Modifications of IAFWA Furbearer Resources Task Force; 118,800 ..........
Trapping Systems, and Familiarity of Trapping BMPs Education, Outreach & Diversity Committee;
by Trappers in the United States and Wildlife Resources Policy Committee
Development of a Detailed National Conservation IAFWA National Grants Committee 68,970 68,970
Need for a National Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-
Associated Recreation Survey
Totals 2,969,727 2,417,116
Clean Vessel Act Pumpout
Grant Program
The funding status of the Clean Vessel Act
(CVA) Program for Fiscal Year 2004 and
beyond remains uncertain as of late
August. Funding authorization for the
CVA program expires at the end of Fiscal
Year 2003. The CVA program needs to be
reauthorized by Congress in order to be
funded in future years. The American
League of Anglers and Boaters (ALAB)
supports reauthorization of the Program
and has lobbied Congress for its
reauthorization, as well as other Sport
Fish Restoration funded programs. Under
the ALAB proposal, the CVA program
will receive 1.9 percent of the total
receipts into the Sport Fish Restoration
Account. Based on estimates of predicted
receipts into this account, funding for the
CVA program would remain similar to its
current level of $10 million annually.
A notable change is likely to occur with
the CVA program if Congress approves
the current ALAB reauthorization
proposal. The ALAB reauthorization
proposal recommends removing the
coastal project ranking preference that
was established in the original act.
Representatives from the States
Organization for Boating Access (SOBA)
and other boating organizations (e.g.,
National Marine Manufacturers
Associations [NMMA]) have expressed
concern about the need for additional
pumpout facilities in freshwater
environments because of national trends
of larger boats being used in inland
waters. These concerns are reflected in
ALAB’s proposal.
Additional changes to the CVA program
may result from administrative changes
that may occur in coming months. The
Service will seek input on program
guidelines regarding the grant awards
process. Some States have recommended
using a tiered funding approach similar to
that of the Boating Infrastructure Grant
(BIG) Program. Other States have
suggested an automatic allocation
approach similar to that of the Sport Fish
September 2003 13
Restoration Program, except using
criteria such as the number of registered
boats or water acreage within a State.
An additional issue that may be
reevaluated in coming months is updating
the pumpout fee guidance given in the
CVA program rules that were published
in 1999.
The Service remains hopeful that the
Program will be reauthorized in time to
allow the Fiscal Year 2004 CVA proposal
process to remain on its current schedule.
For,more information on this Program,
contact Brian Bohnsack.
State Wildlife Grants
President Bush signed the Department
of the Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2003, into law on
February 20, 2003. It included $60 million
in Fiscal Year 2003 for the State Wildlife
Grants (SWG) program, which is available
to States and Territories for obligation
until September 30, 2004. Fiscal Year 2002
SWG funds will be available for obligation
by the States only until September 30,
2003, after which we will reapportion any
remaining unobligated funds.
The Service designed the SWG program
to assist States by providing Federal
funds for the development and
implementation of programs that benefit
wildlife and their habitat, including
species that are not hunted or fished.
It permits both planning and
implementation activities. The Federal
share for planning grants may not exceed
75 percent and may not exceed 50 percent
for other types of grants. To establish
eligibility for these funds, the States and
Territories first had to submit or commit
to develop by October 1, 2005, a
Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation
Plan. All States and Territories have
made this commitment. Most States now
have active SWG projects being funded.
The Service, IAFWA, and the States co-sponsored
five Regional workshops this
spring in West Virginia, Washington,
Georgia, Wisconsin, and Utah which had
the objective of sharing information and
approaches to wildlife conservation
planning and fostering collaboration and
partnership in the development and
implementation of the Comprehensive
Wildlife Conservation Plans.
Subsequently, a collaborative Work
Group was formed by IAFWA, which
is continuing to develop further Plan
development guidance for the States and
their partners. Service staff are members
of this Work Group, along with State and
NGO representatives.
For additional information on this
Program, contact Tim Hess.
States have developed innovative techniques to provide services for recreational boaters through their
Clean Vessel Act grant programs. A local Connecticut marina’s sewage pumpout boat motors to a boat
waiting to have its waste removed. Photo: Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
14 September 2003
Grant Awards for the Landowner Incentive Program - Fiscal Year 2003
State Tier 1 Tier 2 Total
Alabama $0
Alaska $142,500 $1,500,000 $1,642,500
Arizona $180,000 $1,560,000 $1,740,000
Arkansas $158,512 $158,512
California $180,000 $1,560,000 $1,740,000
Colorado $1,740,000 $1,740,000
Connecticut $180,000 $180,000
Delaware $180,000 $180,000
District of Columbia $0
Florida $180,000 $840,000 $1,020,000
Georgia $180,000 $180,000
Hawaii $180,000 $1,551,750 $1,731,750
Idaho $180,000 $180,000
Illinois $0
Indiana $180,000 $180,000
Iowa $180,000 $900,000 $1,080,000
Kansas $0
Kentucky $180,000 $1,315,000 $1,495,000
Louisiana $0
Maine $180,000 $180,000
Maryland $180,000 $180,000
Massachusetts $180,000 $900,000 $1,080,000
Michigan $180,000 $1,351,718 $1,531,718
Minnesota $180,000 $1,334,542 $1,514,542
Mississippi $0
Missouri $180,000 $180,000
Montana $174,639 $1,315,000 $1,489,639
Nebraska $180,000 $1,560,000 $1,740,000
Nevada $180,000 $180,000
New Hampshire $180,000 $180,000
New Jersey $180,000 $180,000
New Mexico $180,000 $180,000
New York $180,000 $180,000
North Carolina $165,000 $165,000
North Dakota $180,000 $710,500 $890,500
Ohio $180,000 $180,000
Oklahoma $180,000 $1,315,000 $1,495,000
Oregon $180,000 $1,533,900 $1,713,900
Pennsylvania $180,000 $1,315,000 $1,495,000
Rhode Island $0
South Carolina $75,000 $900,000 $975,000
South Dakota $0
Tennessee $180,000 $180,000
Texas $1,465,000 $1,465,000
Utah $0
Vermont $180,000 $180,000
Virginia $178,593 $1,555,500 $1,734,093
Washington $180,000 $1,560,000 $1,740,000
West Virginia $180,000 $180,000
Wisconsin $180,000 $180,000
Wyoming $180,000 $180,000
Puerto Rico $0
Guam $0
Virgin Islands $0
American Samoa $0
Northern Mariana Islands $0
Total $6,849,244 $27,947,910 $34,797,154
September 2003 15
Landowner Incentive Program
Congress funded the Landowner
Incentive Program (LIP), authorized in
the Department of the Interior and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2002, with $40 million derived from the
Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The same appropriations Act, in 2003,
rescinded $40 million from the Fiscal Year
2002 Landowner Incentive Program, but
provided the same amount in Fiscal Year
2003. The Fiscal Year 2003 fund awards
were made based on the existing 84
program applications. This program
provides competitive matching grants to
States, Territories, the District of
Columbia, and Tribes. The Service
allocated $4 million to Tribes, $34.8 million
to the States and Territories, and $1.2
million for administrative costs in Fiscal
Year 2003 and plans to allocate any Fiscal
Year 2004 funds in a similar manner. The
grants are to establish or supplement
landowner incentive programs that
provide technical and financial assistance
to private landowners for projects that
protect and restore habitats of listed
species or species determined to be at-risk.
LIP projects involve activities such
as the restoration of marginal farmlands
to wetlands, the removal of exotic plants
to restore natural prairies, a change in
grazing practices and fencing to enhance
important riparian habitats, instream
structural improvements to benefit
aquatic species, road closures to protect
habitats and reduce harassment of
wildlife, and conservation easements. The
Service requires a minimum 25 percent
non-Federal share of project costs.
The Program features two levels of
funding, Tier-1 and Tier-2. Proposals can
be submitted for either Tier-1 or Tier-2
competition (or both), with a maximum
amount awarded to any individual State
not to exceed 5 percent of the total funds
available. Tier-1 grants (capped at
$180,000 per State and $75,000 for D.C.
and the Territories) are intended to
provide a base for States to fund staff and
associated costs necessary to develop a
new or enhance an existing landowner
incentive program. Tier-2 grants are
intended to ‘implement’ State landowner
incentive programs by providing technical
or financial assistance to private
landowners through a variety of means
to support on-the-ground projects.
On February 25, 2003, the Director
announced $34.8 million from the Fiscal
Year 2003 budget had been awarded to
42 of the 47 States that had submitted
project proposals. As of August 14, 2003,
23 of these 42 States have obligated funds
through one or more grant agreements.
On August 15, 2003, the Service published
a notice and a 60-day Request for
Proposals in the Federal Register in
anticipation of a Fiscal Year 2004
appropriation for this Program.
Implementation and proposal submission
guidelines are nearly identical to those
used to solicit proposals for and award
Fiscal Year 2003 funds to States and
Territories. The Director will announce
award decisions after Fiscal Year 2004
funds are authorized.
The Service continues to work with the
States and other Federal agencies to
streamline the program as much as
possible, and to work with other Federal
wildlife conservation impacting programs,
such as those supported by the Farm Bill,
to ensure complementary implementation
of wildlife conservation actions to the
extent possible.
For more information on this Program,
contact Tim Hess or Kim Galvan.
California gnatcatcher habitat encroachment, southern California. Photo: Claire Dobert/USFWS
Federal Assistance National
Training Program
The National Federal Assistance Training
Program functions as part of the
Washington Office of Federal Assistance,
although the staff is located at the
National Conservation Training Center in
Shepherdstown, WV. The training
program develops and delivers grants
management training for Federal
Assistance staff and State fish and wildlife
agency grantees. These training courses
increase the knowledge, skills and abilities
of State and Federal personnel who
manage Federal Assistance grants. This
training helps to ensure that Federal
Assistance grant managers consistently
apply the laws, rules, and policies that
govern Federal Assistance Program
administration.
Since 1996, more than 900 State and
Federal Assistance staff have received
training through courses developed by, or
offered in cooperation with, the Federal
Assistance Training Program. The
majority of those trained have completed
the Basic Grants Management Course
(348 graduates) and the Project Leaders
Course (420 graduates). Additional
courses conducted include: Federal
Assistance Audit Training for Auditors,
Boating Facilities Grant Workshop, Audit
Training Workshop for State Federal
Assistance Coordinators, and Group
Systems Leader (Electronic Meeting
Facilitator) Training.
Currently, Basic Grants Management
Courses are scheduled at least once each
year. Interest and demand for the State
specific Federal Assistance Project
Leaders Course continues to grow. Eight
Project Leaders Courses were completed
through July in Fiscal Year 2003.
Additional Project Leaders Courses are
planned through April 2004. Federal
Assistance Audit Training Workshops for
State grantees will be conducted by the
end of December 2003 for the two Regions
that have yet to hold their annual
coordinators’ workshop.
The GroupSystems (Electronic Meeting)
Leaders Course was piloted in July 2003.
Using computer technology and the
Internet offers the Federal Assistance
Division a way to increase meeting
productivity, decrease meeting costs, and
increase the number of partners involved
in decision-making.
Two additional courses are currently
under development:
n Fiscal Management of Federal
Assistance Grants
n Compliance Issues
Course descriptions, an on-line
application, training materials, and grant
manager’s resources are available on
Federal Assistance’s Training Program
web site at: http://training.fws.gov/fedaid/.
For additional information on this issue,
contact Steve Leggans at the National
Conservation Training Center at
304/876 7927.
16 September 2003
Approximately 350 individuals have taken the Basic Grants Management Course offered by the National Federal Assistance Training Program.
Photo: National Federal Assistance Training Program.
September 2003 17
Appendix All information and tables previously
found in the appendices in earlier
Program Updates are now on the Federal
Assistance homepage at:
http://federalaid.fws.gov/.
18 September 2003
September 2003 19
20 September 2003
September 2003 21
22 September 2003
September 2003 23
Special Highlight
Section of Region 3
Many areas of the country are using best
management practices to address a
variety of water quality issues on
waterways. Illinois has begun several
watershed management projects over the
past several years, including identifying
the highest priority watersheds in the
State for best management practices,
based on the habitat value of streams
draining the watershed. The Governor’s
Office has played a major role in
establishing the best management
practice programs in priority watersheds.
Now, a unique study funded through the
Sport Fish Restoration program will
evaluate the impacts and effectiveness of
best management practices on a
watershed scale and over the long-term.
The Illinois watershed study is designed
to examine the effects of good watershed
management on the habitat quality of
their streams over the long-term, and
produce quantitative data to clearly
illustrate the extent of impact that best
management practices can have. The
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
is encouraging the broader use of best
management practices by showing
farmers, policy makers, and citizens the
benefits gained from using these
techniques in watersheds.
24 September 2003
Best Management Practices Evaluated in
Illinois using Sport Fish Restoration funds
Northeastern Illinois Wetland
Protection Project
Illinois is known as the prairie State but,
historically, it also contained extensive
wetlands. Most of those wetlands have
been destroyed by developments. The
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) received Federal assistance to
purchase acreage within Black-Crown
Marsh, a unique wetland in northeastern
Illinois. The Service’s Washington D.C.
Office of Endangered Species selected the
proposal for funding. Grant compliance
and fiscal management are administered
by the Division of Federal Assistance.
Northeastern Illinois once contained a
mosaic of prairie and marsh with
scattered occurrences of bogs and fens, a
result of glacial activity. A large portion of
that landscape was modified by
agricultural development, as well as
growth of Chicago and the metropolitan
area. As the human population continues
to grow, by almost ten percent annually,
pressure continues to convert natural
landscapes to urban settings.
To preserve wetlands, a partnership,
called the Northeastern Illinois Wetland
Protection Project, was initiated and
consists of various organizations,
including the Illinois DNR. Black-Crown
Marsh is one of those important
remaining areas, and is listed in the
Illinois Natural Areas Inventory.
Dominated by palustrine emergent
wetland with hemi-marsh and scrub-shrub
habitats, it provides refuge for a
diversity and abundance of wetland-dependant
birds. They include State-listed
threatened and endangered species
such as the black tern, common moorhen,
least bittern, pied-billed grebe, sandhill
crane, black-crowned night-heron, and
yellow-headed blackbird. The Service
included the area in the North American
Waterfowl Management Plan for the
Upper Mississippi River. It is also
included in the Great Lakes Region Joint
Venture as a Focus Area for northeastern
Illinois due to its size, location and the
important role it plays in the production
of, and migration habitat for, waterfowl
and wetland-dependant birds. The
Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity
Recovery Plan considers the site part of
the most important wetland complex in
the Chicago area.
The Illinois DNR received financial
assistance through the nationally
competitive State Wildlife Grant Program
to purchase an important parcel in Black-
Crown Marsh. The Federal award of
$760,000 of SWG funding is leveraged
with non-Federal cash and in-kind
contributions –– worth $2,131,000 –– from
the Illinois DNR and its partners. The
non-Federal contribution also includes
wetlands management and purchase of
other wetlands acreage. Acquisition of the
selected acreage will ensure that its
values to wildlife are protected along with
the opportunity for the public to enjoy
these resources.
Illinois
One of the most popular attractions at the
Indiana State Fair has a great new look.
The 40-year-old fish display maintained
by the Indiana Department of Natural
Resources’ (DNR) Division of Fish and
Wildlife, has been renovated to be more
interactive. Activities, videos, and a wealth
of information have been incorporated
into the new design. The fish tanks now
highlight the State’s aquatic habitat from
Lake Michigan to farm ponds to the Ohio
River. The tanks now provide an
ecosystem approach to viewing aquatic
species found in the Hoosier State. In
addition, lighting, air-conditioning, air
movement, and humidity controls were
added using creative designs which gives
you the feeling of waves and water. These
improvements were funded under
Indiana’s aquatic education grant using
Sport Fish Restoration funds.
Every aspect of their project was
designed to be accessible to persons with
disabilities —from the multi-media
presentations to the building’s new
restrooms. Some difficult adaptations
were encountered due to the century-old
building’s historic significance. However,
perseverance and ingenuity prevailed and
the results speak for themselves—aquatic
education available for everyone.
Many more Indiana citizens can view and
better understand the types of aquatic
systems found in Indiana due to the
partnership between the Service and the
Indiana DNR, Division of Fish and
Wildlife.
September 2003 25
Aquatic Education Grant Gives Up-Close
Look at Fish at Indiana State Fair
Indiana State Fair exhibition. Photo: Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Indiana
Boaters who use the Mississippi River at
Clinton, Iowa, will soon enjoy improved
access and facilities thanks to grants
under the Boating Infrastructure Grant
(BIG) Program.
Through two grants that total more than
$1.9 million, along with additional
matching funds, the city of Clinton plans
to construct new and renovate existing
boating access facilities on the Mississippi
River. The improvements will provide
access for larger transient recreation
boats. Among improvements planned for
the Clinton facility are 50 transient boat
slips, security lighting, navigational aids,
fuel pumps, a sewage pump system,
showers, laundry, access walks, and other
upgrades. These projects will help meet a
growing demand for recreational facilities
by boaters, as well as better accessibility
for disabled users and improved safety for
those who use the new facilities.
BIG Program projects, such as those
underway in Clinton, allow more people
to enjoy the Mississippi River and take
advantage of the many recreational,
historical, natural, cultural, and scenic
resources that are part of this National
Scenic Byway.
26 September 2003
BIG Program Brings Boating
Opportunities to Iowa
Federal Assistance Programs Helps Iowa
Acquire Important Bird Conservation Areas
Greater prairie chicken. Photo: Iowa Department
of Natural Resources.
Iowa’s Bird Conservation Area (BCA)
Program is part of a recent exciting
continental initiative that resulted from a
growing concern for the decline of a large
number of North American bird species.
A very important aspect that helps
enhance the functionality of the Iowa BCA
Program has been helped by the infusion
of Federal Assistance dollars in the form
of grants from the Wildlife Conservation
and Restoration Program (WCRP) and
State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program.
In 2001, the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) designated its first
BCA (also the first grassland BCA in the
U.S.), the Kellerton Grasslands BCA in
Ringgold County. The greater prairie-chicken
serves as the umbrella species for
this BCA, and by managing for prairie
chickens, a host of grassland birds will
benefit, such as Henslow’s sparrow,
bobolink, dickcissel, short-eared owl, and
northern harrier. Three additional BCA’s
now have been dedicated, including
Spring Run Grasslands (Dickinson
County), Broken Kettle Grasslands
(Plymouth County), and Effigy Mounds-
Yellow River Forest (Allamakee and
Clayton Counties). These four BCAs
comprise roughly a total 184,000 acres
that have been targeted as high priority
areas for bird conservation. Two more
BCAs are targeted for designation in
2003, and six more areas will be
designated in the near future.
Federal Assistance funds, through Iowa’s
Statewide Land Acquisition Program
grant, have allowed the Iowa DNR to
purchase several key land additions to
existing or future BCAs. For example, the
240-acre Tauke addition to the Kellerton
Grasslands BCA was largely purchased
with WCRP funds and is critical habitat
for the survival of Iowa’s prairie chickens.
As of July 2003, over $500,000 of WCRP
and SWG Program funds have been
approved by the Service through the
current one-year grant agreement period
to acquire these State BCAs and other
important habitat for grassland birds and
neo-tropical migrants. In this era of tight
budgets and little money for land
acquisition, Federal Assistance Programs
have taken on major importance by
providing rare dollars for rare bird
species habitat protection.
Iowa
Nearly one-third of all recreational fishing
in Michigan depends on stocked fish,
including most of the trout and salmon
fisheries in the Great Lakes. Michigan’s
six hatcheries, funded in part with Sport
Fish Restoration funds, produce 750,000
pounds of fish each year to support the
demand for sportfishing opportunities.
Fish production and stocking are
important tools in maintaining and
enhancing the State’s sportfishing
opportunities. By creating a diversity of
fish populations through stocking,
managers can create a more stable fishery
and one that provides more opportunities
for recreational fishing. A good example is
Lake Michigan’s fishery, once dominated
by Chinook salmon. Today, anglers catch
five salmonid species, along with yellow
perch and walleye.
Fish produced in hatcheries can be
marked and easily monitored after
release, giving managers a clearer picture
of how these fish affect the ecosystem into
which they are introduced, as well as
impacts on other fish and on existing gene
pools in the system. By employing
separate regulations for marked and
unmarked fish, managers can manipulate
resources in new ways that recognize the
importance of wild fish and self-sustaining
populations.
Hatcheries give fisheries managers a
range of options to provide desirable
game fish in waters once dominated by
species with little or no value to sport
anglers or to the ecosystem. Michigan’s
fish production and stocking program
expends about $7 million a year ––
including $5.5 million in Federal funds. In
a State where the sportfishing industry
amounts to $2.2 billion a year, benefits of
fish production and stocking clearly
outweigh costs.
September 2003 27
Funding of Michigan’s Hatcheries
Support Sportfishing
Wildlife Restoration Funding Supports
Gray Wolf Research in Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula
Gray wolf. Photo: USFWS
As gray wolves, listed as Federally
threatened species in the Great Lakes
area move toward recovery, it is essential
that wildlife managers have accurate
information about the species’ population
and status. Since 1998 the Wildlife
Restoration Program has provided
funding to assist the State of Michigan’s
efforts to evaluate the State’s population
of gray wolves.
With annual funding of $250,000
Michigan’s Department of Natural
Resources conducts a wide range of
activities to study the State’s gray wolves
with the aim of refining population
estimate techniques. Efforts include
radio-telemetry of wolf packs, track
counts, collection and analysis of historical
observation data, and database
maintenance.
The goal of the research is to provide the
best scientific estimate of population size
and trends of gray wolves in Michigan and
to gain understanding of wolf ecology to
support wolf recovery efforts and long-term
maintenance of the population. In
addition, the research will provide data on
wolf habitat needs as well as impacts of
the wolf population on the State’s white-tailed
deer herd. Data will be used to
evaluate the performance of management
activities that are designed to meet the
goals of both the Federal and State gray
wolf recovery plans, and to document the
eventual recovery and post-delisting
health of the species in Michigan and the
Great Lakes area.
It is expected that the gray wolf
population study in Michigan will continue
at least until 2007. The total cost is
estimated at $1.7 million, with more
than $1.3 million coming from Wildlife
Restoration or State Wildlife Grant funds.
Michigan
Chinook salmon. Photo: J. Keller/USFWS
Known as the land of 10,000 lakes,
Minnesota is famous for water-related
recreation. But, development on
Minnesota lakes has resulted with a
continuing loss of natural resources,
including wildlife habitats. The Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
received Federal assistance from the State
Wildlife Grant Program to expand its
programs of maintaining and restoring
wildlife habitats on lakes throughout the
State. Selection of the proposal for
funding was made by the Washington
Office of Endangered Species. Compliance
and fiscal management are administered
by Federal Assistance.
Minnesota lakes provide colorful vistas
and wildlife that attract people who enjoy
fishing, wildlife viewing, canoeing, hunting
and other activities. Besides these
avocations, people also frequent lakes for
weekend cabins, and second or retirement
homes. Increasingly, these developments
impact the same features which lure
people to lakes. In particular, natural
shoreland vegetation has been removed to
accommodate boat docks, swimming
areas, uninterrupted views of clear, blue
water and other reasons. Contrarily,
people want to retain the visual appeals of
the same vegetation that is removed.
These conflicting attitudes create a
complex management problem for
agencies such as the Minnesota DNR.
To address continuous loss of shoreland
habitats, the Minnesota DNR developed
Statewide programs which partner with
individuals, private groups, and
communities to maintain and restore this
thin boundary of lakeside vegetation. To
increase funding for the programs, the
Minnesota DNR entered into a national
competition for financial assistance from
the State Wildlife Grant Program and
received an award of $534,000. Those
dollars are leveraged with $2,300,000 of
non-Federal matching funds. The project
consists of a comprehensive approach to
address loss of shoreland habitats. It
includes collecting baseline information
about lakes, their watersheds and status
of shoreland vegetation; collecting and
understanding public attitudes about how
lakeshore owners manage their property
and what practices they use; conducting
workshops for lakeshore owners;
increasing availability of plants used to
restore shoreland habitats; training
resource professionals in lakeshore
restoration; improving techniques for
controlling exotics such as common carp
and purple loosestrife; and providing
technical and financial assistance to
local groups and agencies to support
restoration of lakeshore habitats.
This financial support for the Minnesota
DNR program continues through June
2007. It will support the public/private
partnerships to maintain and restore
shoreland habitats for wildlife.
28 September 2003
State Wildlife Grant Enhances
Management of Lake Shorelands for
Wildlife Conservation
Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently received funding from the State Wildlife Grant Program that will be used to enhance the management of
lake shorelines for wildlife conservation. Photo: Mike Sweet/USFWS
Generations of wildlife enthusiasts have
enjoyed the benefits of Minnesota’s
extensive system of Wildlife Management
Areas (WMA). Since 1951 when
Minnesota began its “Save the Wetlands”
program, wetlands and other habitats
have been acquired in order to conserve
them. Initiated by a handful of visionary
wildlife managers and supported by
hunters, trappers, wildlife enthusiasts,
and legislators, the system has evolved to
include 878,000 acres of land.
Managed by the Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife,
this WMA system is one of the best and
largest in the country. There are 1,355
wildlife management areas in 86 of
Minnesota’s 87 counties. Habitats
protected by the system include wetlands,
prairie, woodlands, brush lands, and other
lands vital to wildlife. They are also
important contributors to Minnesota’s
economy — hunting and wildlife watching
are a billion dollar industry in the State.
Most of these wildlife management areas
were acquired using funding from the
Wildlife Restoration Program through
Minnesota’s Statewide Wildlife Land
Acquisition Grant. More than a million
dollars of Federal Assistance funds have
been approved through this grant to
continue to acquire land within the next
2-year grant agreement period. The State
also utilizes their Wildlife Restoration
funds to develop and manage WMAs,
which provides hunting opportunities and
other wildlife-dependent recreation.
September 2003 29
Minnesota Acquires Wildlife Management
Areas through the Wildlife Restoration
Program
Minnesota
Photo: USFWS
Missouri’s fishery management
capabilities received a boost in October
2000 with the construction of the Lost
Valley Fish Hatchery, a project funded in
part with $16.2 million in Federal funding
through the Sport Fish Restoration
Program. This 970-acre hatchery facility,
15 years in the making, represents the
largest single Sport Fish Restoration
capital improvement project in the
Program���s history. This project received
the American Fisheries Society’s
Fisheries Administrator’s Section Wallop-
Breaux Project of the Year Award in 2002.
Lost Valley Fish Hatchery features an
18,000-square-foot fish production room,
78 fish production ponds, seven water
supply wells, and 15 miles of piping
capable of delivering 3,5000 gallons of
water per minute. State-of-the-art
technology allows electronic monitoring of
water temperature, pH, and oxygen
levels. A special solar collecting pond
produces inexpensive warm water for
controlling temperatures in rearing ponds
and in the hatchery building. The
hatchery produces over 4 million
warmwater and coolwater fish, including
largemouth bass, walleye, muskellunge,
catfish, paddlefish, bluegill and hybrid
sunfish.
In Lost Valley Hatchery, the Missouri
Department of Conservation has been
able to consolidate operations in a single
centrally located facility, allowing closure
of two older, less efficient hatcheries. With
the opening of the hatchery, the
department is less dependent on private
fish growers, resulting in better disease
control and genetic management of fish
stocks, as well as greater flexibility in
meeting stocking needs.
Visitors to the hatchery, located near
Truman Lake and the town of Warsaw,
can learn about fish identification,
fisheries management, fishing in Missouri,
and the Sport Fish Restoration Program
through interactive interpretive exhibits.
They also get an up-close look at native
Missouri fish in a 13,000-gallon aquarium.
30 September 2003
Sport Fish Restoration Grant Boosts
Lost Valley Hatchery and Fisheries
Management in Missouri
Missouri
Lost Valley Hatchery Complex. Photo: Missouri
Department of Conservation.
Lost Valley Hatchery Aquarium. Photo: Missouri
Department of Conservation.
Boaters are now able to enjoy more of
Missouri’s many recreational and natural
resources thanks to the Boating
Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program, a
program that provides Federal funding
to improve boating for non-trailerable
recreational boats (those that are 26 feet
or longer). For the past two years, the
Missouri Department of Conservation
has been awarded BIG grants totaling
$385,700 to improve access and other
facilities for these boaters.
Money from the grant program has
funded a variety of projects, including
installation of transient docks, day docks,
fuel docks, sewage pumpouts, restrooms
and other boating related facilities. These
projects are being carried out at a number
of locations throughout the State. Seven
projects are already complete at four
marinas at Lake of the Woods, Table Rock
Lake, and on the Missouri River. Three
additional sites on the Missouri and Osage
rivers have projects currently underway.
Funds for the BIG Program are provided
through the Sport Fish Restoration
Account.
September 2003 31
BIG Program Improves Boating Access
on Missouri Waterways
Missouri
The Ohio Division of Wildlife (DW) is
using a $1 million grant from the National
Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant
Program to purchase and protect 280
acres of restorable coastal wetlands on
Lake Erie. The land lies adjacent to the
2,800-acre Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area
on Sandusky Bay, an extremely important
area for migratory birds.
The Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area lies at
the center of the best coastal wetland
habitat remaining on Sandusky Bay.
Unfortunately, this habitat is declining,
while importance of the area to migratory
birds is high and continues to grow. Ohio’s
coastal marshes and Sandusky Bay
support a dramatically growing number of
spring-migration, neotropical migratory
birds. The area is also the most important
migration staging area for black ducks on
the North American continent.
Acquisition and restoration efforts
through this project will also enhance
habitat for many native wetland species
which are listed as Federal or State
endangered or threatened species.
Looking to the future, the Ohio DW has
proposed a follow-up National Coastal
Wetlands Conservation Program grant.
This would enable the State to take on a
more comprehensive, longer-term effort
to protect and enhance the remaining
coastal wetland habitat of Sandusky Bay.
32 September 2003
Wildlife Restoration Program Brings
Environmental Education to Ohio Schools
and Parks
Coastal Wetland Grant Enhances Ohio’s
Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area
Federal funding is bringing the world of
wildlife and science closer to Ohio
residents, thanks to some innovative
partnering by the Ohio Division of
Wildlife (DW) and funding from the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. More than
50,000 Ohio middle schoolers are getting a
chance for some hands-on learning
through a program sponsored by the Ohio
DW and funded in part through the
Wildlife Restoration Program. In
partnership with the Center of Science
and Industry (COSI), the “COSI on
Wheels” project brings the wildlife
conservation message directly to children.
The learning program was developed by
COSI and the Ohio DW to focus on the
process of discovery, with emphasis on
inquiry and hands-on science projects.
The program provides kids with pre-visit
activities and materials, as well as post-visit
information to reinforce key
concepts.
Visitors to Ohio’s State parks will continue
to enjoy the benefits of the parks’
excellent naturalist program, despite
State budget shortfalls. Grants totaling
$250,000 through the Ohio DW are
helping keep the State Park Naturalist
Program viable, with increased emphasis
on wildlife biology and management.
The Ohio DW receives approximately
$4.8 million annually from the Wildlife
Restoration Program for its
Comprehensive Management System,
which is based on a Statewide strategic
wildlife plan and focuses on helping Ohio
citizens conserve their wildlife resources.
Ohio
Photo: USFWS
September 2003 33
Wildlife Restoration Funds Support
Wisconsin Efforts to Understand Chronic
Wasting Disease
Wildlife Restoration funds are supporting
efforts in Wisconsin to study chronic
wasting disease (CWD), a nervous system
disease that affects deer and elk. First
observed in 1967 in northern Colorado,
CWD was subsequently detected in other
western States and Canadian provinces in
2001. By 2002, CWD was found in deer in
Wisconsin, New Mexico, Illinois, and
Minnesota.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources (DNR), supported by nearly
$1.5 million in Wildlife Restoration funds,
has launched a wide range of activities to
learn more about the disease. Activities
include surveillance, disease monitoring,
surveys and research.
An important highlight of these ongoing
activities in Wisconsin is a research study
funded by the Wildlife Restoration
Program that examines the relationships
of deer ecology, disease ecology, and
hunter behavior to manage CWD. During
the study, the Wisconsin DNR will collect
information to help researchers
understand relationships between CWD
and deer population dynamics, deer
movement, and behavior. The study will
also focus on the extent of the disease,
how the disease is transmitted and how
quickly it spreads, and the effectiveness of
their CWD management program. An
important part of the study is an
examination of human risk factors and
attitudes of hunters, landowners, and the
general public toward the disease.
Findings from the study will significantly
increase the information available about
CWD, thereby enhancing efforts to
manage the disease.
Wisconsin
Photo: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
34 September 2003
A portion of Wisconsin’s Baraboo River
has been transformed from a series of
sluggish mill ponds to a free-flowing
waterway, thanks to an ambitious project
that included removal of four dams along
the river. Funded in part with Sport Fish
Restoration monies and encompassing
120 river miles, the $1.8 million project
represents the most miles of river to be
restored in Wisconsin and is one of the
biggest river restoration projects in the
nation.
Removal of the dams — three of them
located in Baraboo, about 40 miles from
Madison — resulted in the longest
contiguous riffle complex in the Baraboo
River drainage. Following dam removal,
the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources restored and enhanced sport
fish riverine habitat, as well as habitat for
other aquatic species, and began a long-term
evaluation of both habitat and
aquatic species recovery patterns.
As might be expected, a project of this
magnitude included forging extensive
partnerships to support financial and
administrative goals. Partners ranged
from special interest groups and
foundations to State and Federal
agencies. As an example, the City of
Baraboo integrated the project into the
city’s long-term downtown redevelopment
plans. Baraboo has also developed a river
walkway as a community focal point.
Initial information from evaluation efforts
shows rapid improvement in the river’s
fishery, reflected in fish migration
patterns, fish community health, and
distribution patterns. The project has
resulted in an improved sport fishery, and
enhanced recreation opportunities on the
river. For example, canoeists can now
travel the entire 120 miles of navigable
waters, something not possible in nearly
150 years.
The Fisheries Administrator’s Section of
the American Fisheries Society recently
awarded this project its 2003 Sport
Fishery and Development Project of the
Year Award.
Sport Fish Restoration Funds Dam Removal
on Wisconsin’s Baraboo River
Wisconsin
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Division of Federal Aid
http://www.fws.gov

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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Sport Fish and Wildlife
Restoration
Program Update September 2003
Including a Special Highlight
Section of Region 3
Cover photo: Horicon NWR, Wisconsin
Assistant Director’s Comments ........................................................................................................1
Regional Director, Region 3 Comments ..........................................................................................3
Staff Directory, Federal Assistance, Washington, D.C. Office ..................................................4
Federal Assistance Program - Overview........................................................................................5
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities ..................................................................................6
Joint Federal/State Task Force on Federal Assistance Policy ........................................6
Sport Fish Restoration Program ........................................................................................7
Sport Fish Restoration Program Reauthorization Update ............................................7
State Audits ..............................................................................................................................7
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program..............................................................................8
Federal Assistance Information Management System (FAIMS)..................................8
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation ..............9
New Survey Reports................................................................................................................9
Section 10 Hunter Education Program ............................................................................10
National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program ..........................................11
Multistate Conservation Grant Program ........................................................................11
Clean Vessel Act Pumpout Grant Program......................................................................13
State Wildlife Grants ............................................................................................................13
Landowner Incentive Program ..........................................................................................15
Federal Assistance National Training Program............................................................16
Appendix.............................................................................................................................................17
Director’s Order #152 ..............................................................................................................18
Director’s Order #156 ..............................................................................................................21
Special Highlight Section of Region 3 ..........................................................................................23
Table of
Contents
September 2003 1
Assistant
Director’s
Comments
Paul R.
Schmidt
In the Program Update March 2003, we
expressed our enthusiasm for many of the
changes occurring in the Federal Aid
Program. Progress in effecting these
changes continues and we are particularly
excited that the recruitment for the first-ever
Assistant Director-Wildlife and Sport
Fish Restoration has begun in earnest.
Also consistent with the Wildlife and
Sport Fish Restoration Programs
Improvement Act of 2000, you will notice
throughout this Program Update that the
program referred to in the past as Federal
Aid is now referred to as the Federal
Assistance Program.
As part of the continuing positive changes
occurring in Federal Assistance, we are
pleased to announce the addition of two
new staff members to the Federal
Assistance family in the Washington
Office along with the promotion of a third
individual. The first of these new staff
members is Mr. Jim Greer. Jim is the
new Deputy Division Chief for Federal
Assistance replacing Larry Bandolin.
Larry retired in August. Jim comes to
the Division with a variety of career
experiences in fish and wildlife
management, administration, and policy
development. His 26+ years with the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
culminated in his appointment as Director
of the Agency from 1997 to 2001. This
followed various positions in the agency
including Wildlife Division Chief, Regional
Assistant Supervisor, and District Wildlife
Biologist. Jim also served on the Pacific
Flyway Council for 8 years, was President
of the Western Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies, was Commissioner
for the Pacific States Marine Fish
Commission, and was a Board member of
the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation.
Two years ago, Jim joined the Service in
our Pacific Northwest Regional Office in
Portland as the Wildlife Branch Chief for
Federal Assistance.
The most recent addition to Federal
Assistance is Mr. Joshua Winchell. Joshua
served as Outdoor Ethics Program
Director for the Izaak Walton League of
America for three years. While with the
IWLA, Joshua’s focus was on promoting
responsible hunting and outdoor
recreation on public and private lands
nationwide. Joshua also has hands-on
experience in working with fish in various
field studies as a consultant and employee
of National Marine Fisheries Service.
Joshua will be a member of the Branch of
Grants Operations and Policy and will
focus on strengthening program ties with
the hunter and aquatic education and
shooting sports communities. We are very
excited about the addition of the talent
and experience that Jim and Joshua bring
with them to the Federal Assistance
Program. We are also pleased to announce
the promotion of Mr. Pat McHugh to the
position of Chief, Branch of Audits. Pat
has served as a Systems Accountant for
the Branch of Audits for two years. Pat’s
duties have included managing the audit
process, being a point of contact for
Regional and State fiscal staff, and
monitoring audit resolutions. Pat is a
Certified Public Accountant and prior to
coming to the Service was employed by an
accounting firm in Greeley, Colorado.
Other professional experience includes
working as a State revenue agent and a
staff auditor for a university internal audit
department.
Congratulations are also in order for
Chris McKay who has been responsible
for the Multistate Conservation Grant
Program while serving as a special
assistant to the Division Chief of Federal
Assistance. Chris was recently promoted
to Assistant Region Director in Region 1
for Migratory Birds and State Programs
located in Portland, Oregon. We wish
Chris the best of success as he begins his
new position in October.
The efforts of the Joint Federal/State
Task Force (JTF) on Federal Assistance
Policy (composed of Service and State fish
and wildlife agency personnel) have
already began to bear fruit. The first
products of the JTF were announced by
the Director in a memo to the Regions
dated July 25, 2003. That memo
transmitted Director’s Orders Nos. 152
and 156 (see Appendix). Director’s Order
No. 152 provides guidance on allowable
recreational activities and related facilities
on Federal Assistance lands. Director’s
Order No. 156 provides guidance for
making budget changes within a
nonconstruction grant funded under the
Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration
Programs. The next recommendations to
be forwarded to the Director from the
JTF are in regard to program income,
allowable commercial activities, and
Endangered Species Act Section 7
consultations. More details on the planned
activities of the JTF are presented later in
this Program Update.
Many positive changes continue to
brighten the future of the Federal
Assistance Program, such as the
implementation of the State Wildlife
Grants (SWG) and Landowner Incentive
Programs.
The Service provided 42 States with
Fiscal Year 2003 funds under the
competitive Landowner Incentive
Program earlier this year and the 60-day
Request for Proposals for Fiscal Year
2004 was published in the Federal
Register on Friday, August 15. This
spring, the Service cooperatively
conducted five Regional workshops within
a 10-week period to provide the States
with tools, resources, and approaches to
help them develop their SWG Plans. Over
200 persons representing 49 States
attended these workshops.
However, challenge is the constant
companion of change. We continue to work
closely with the American League of
Anglers and Boaters (ALAB) in
supporting their consensus position for
reauthorization of the Sport Fish
Restoration Program. ALAB provides the
unique forum for the Service, States, and
non-governmental organizations to work
together to foster a stronger base of
support for the Sport Fish Restoration
Program. Reauthorization of the Program
is essential for the continued funding of
popular programs such as the Boating
Infrastructure Grant Program, the Clean
Vessel Act Program, and the National
Outreach and Communications Program.
Also, preliminary information on gross
receipts for the Sport Fish Restoration
Program show a 4.9 percent increase over
last year’s collections; however, gross
receipts for the Wildlife Restoration
Program are down 4 percent. While
routine fluctuations in gross receipts can
be expected for either Program, we must
be concerned about the future of hunting
and fishing in America. As reported in the
Program Update March 2003, total
participation in all wildlife-related
recreation increased from 1996 to 2001
according to the most recent National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife
Associated Recreation, while participation
in fishing declined by 3 percent and
hunting by 7 percent. Most of the decline
in hunting is attributable to a reduction in
small game hunting and hunting for
raccoon, groundhogs, etc. classified as
“other animal hunting”.
We are confident that through the strong
partnerships we have with State fish and
wildlife agencies and other natural
resource conservation organizations,
these and other challenges will be met.
We will, together with our partners in the
public and private sectors, provide the
American sportsman and sportswoman,
and all outdoor enthusiasts, with
expanded opportunities to enjoy high
quality hunting, fishing, viewing, and
other wildlife associated recreational
experiences that will help secure the
future of these activities with the present
generation and those generations yet to
become “hooked on nature.”
Finally, we are excited to be providing
some extra information in this Program
Update. We are highlighting some of the
great work currently being accomplished
in Region 3 through the various programs
administered by the Division of Federal
Assistance. The following are comments
by Region 3 Regional Director Robyn
Thorson. Then, after the national update
of our Federal Assistance Program, this
Program Update will include some
specific project highlights from Region 3.
2 September 2003
All across the nation, there is recognition of
the outdoor traditions and abundant
recreational opportunities available in the
eight States of this Region. Working among
people who place a high value on fish and
wildlife resources makes my job, and those
of our State agency partners, both
rewarding and inspiring. Midwest outdoors
men and women share a passion for
hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependent
recreation that is unmatched
anywhere in the United States. According
to the Service’s 2001 National Survey of
Fishing, Hunting and Outdoor Recreation,
more than 44 million people in the eight
States that make up Region 3 either hunted
or fished in 2001. In Minnesota alone, an
astounding 39 percent of the State’s
population hunted or fished that year!
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is to conserve protect and enhance
fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for
the continuing benefit of the American
people. This important undertaking can
only be accomplished through close
partnerships with State agencies, non-governmental
organizations and the
support of conservation-minded individuals.
Individual partners include hunters,
anglers and other outdoors men and
women, true conservationists who have
long recognized the value of our fish and
wildlife resources and help make them
available for future generations. Through
their purchases of licenses and hunting and
fishing equipment, they provide funding for
conservation efforts that add significantly
to the quality of life we enjoy. The large
number of licensed hunters and anglers in
Region 3 yields the largest apportionment
of Federal Assistance dollars of any other
Service Region. In Fiscal Year 2003,
$52,909,734 in Sport Fish Restoration
funds, and $43,214,859 in Wildlife
Restoration funds were allocated to Region
3 States through our Federal Assistance
office. In recent years, Federal Assistance
grants have accounted for one-quarter to
one-third of many State fish and wildlife
management budgets. In today’s tight fiscal
environment, the importance of Federal
Assistance funds to State conservation
projects has become even more critical.
As Regional Director, I am committed to
the continued integrity and professional
administration of our Federal Assistance
Program. In order to work best together,
my goal for the Federal Assistance
Program is to listen to partners and focus
on the strengths of the partnerships. The
Federal and State commitment to fish and
wildlife resources is a bond, much stronger
and much more significant than our
differences. In addition to monies
distributed to States pursuant to the Sport
Fish Restoration and Wildlife Restoration
accounts, Federal Assistance has also been
administering a growing list of new and re-authorized
legislated programs such as:
Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and
Restoration; Landowner Incentive
Program; Section 6 of the Endangered
Species Act; Boating Infrastructure Grant
Program; State Wildlife Grants; and the
Clean Vessel Act Program. Although
smaller in terms of dollars, these grants
should not be overlooked as funding sources
to benefit our fish and wildlife resources.
In recent years, the Region 3 Federal
Assistance staff has assisted States with
traditional resource enhancement projects
such as the Lost Valley Fish Hatchery in
Missouri (the largest capital development
project in the history of the Federal
Assistance Program) and with emerging
challenges, such as chronic wasting disease.
In the years ahead State and Federal
conservation agencies will surely face new
challenges. Together, we will meet these
challenges in the spirit of cooperation that
has been the basis of our successful
partnership over the years. I look forward
to working with all of our State partners in
the years to come.
Lastly, please reference several Region 3
project highlights toward the end of this
Program Update. These highlights outline
some of the fantastic work being done in
our Region.
Robyn Thorson
Regional Director,
Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
September 2003 3
Regional Director
Region 3
Comments
Robyn
Thorson
Welcome to the Midwest, the
heart of America and home of
Region 3, the Great Lakes –
Big Rivers Region of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Staff Directory
Federal
Assistance
Washington DC
Office
Federal Assistance Main Phone Number
703/358 2156
Web Address
http://federalaid.fws.gov
Kris E. LaMontagne, Division Chief
Doug Gentile, Civil Rights Coordinator for
Public Access
Jim Greer, Deputy Division Chief -
Operations
Jimmye Kane, Lead Secretary
Pam Matthes, Financial/Program Analyst
Vacant, Secretary
Branch of Budget and Administration
Tom Jeffrey, Branch Chief - Budget
Development and Execution - Program
Management
Mary Jones, Administrative Officer
Linda Muhammad, Program Support
Assistant
Tracey Vriens, Program Analyst
Branch of Information Management
Bill Conlin, Branch Chief - Information
Management - ADP Support - FAIMS
Dale Beaumariage, FAIMS Help Desk,
Grant Administration Training
Lorinda Bennett, Fiscal Management -
Audit Liaison
Ed Duda, System Developer
Jake Goodall, System Developer
Jeffrey Graves, Server Support - Web Site
Support
Pete Hitchcock, Network Engineer,
Security Officer
C. J. Huang, Database Administrator
Sandie Lehberger, Administrative
Technician
David Washington, ADP Systems Support -
ADP Acquisition Support
Debbie Wircenske, Help Desk and Fiscal
Administration Training
Luther Zachary, FAIMS Team Leader
Branch of Grants Operations and Policy
Gary Reinitz, Branch Chief - National Issue
Management
Brian Bohnsack, Sport Fish Restoration
Program - Coastal Wetlands - Clean
Vessel Program - Boating Infrastructure
Grant Program - Regions 1 & 2
Kim Galvan, Regulations - U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Manual Chapters -
Section 6 Grants - Regions 4 & 7
Tim Hess, Wildlife Restoration Program -
Landowner Incentive Program - State
Wildlife Grants - Regions 3 & 5
Joshua Winchell, Regulations - Education
Liaison - Region 6
Branch of Audits
Pat McHugh, Branch Chief - Audits
Ord Bargerstock, Systems Accountant -
Regions 4 & 5 - Audit Resolution
Kate Gilliam, Systems Accountant -
Regions 1 & 2 - Lessons Learned -
Future Audit Plans
Vacant, Systems Accountant - Regions 3,
6, & 7 - Audit Program Oversight
Branch of Surveys
Sylvia Cabrera, Branch Chief - National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-
Associated Recreation
Richard Aiken, Economist - National
Survey
Genevieve Pullis, Economist - National
Survey
Branch of Training
Steve Leggans, Branch Chief
Julie Schroyer, Administrative Analyst
Blake Weirich, Assistant Training
Coordinator
Intergovernmental Personnel Act
(IPA) Agreement
Lanny Moore, On IPA between the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and the
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies
This one-year IPA will allow Lanny to
pursue full-time the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS), Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF), and
Customs Working Group initiatives. The
main goal of the group is to ensure that
the States receive all funds they are due
from these agencies in a timely and
accurate manner. Through displays,
workshops, and seminars, Lanny will
conduct training for all IRS, BATF, and
Customs staff who are involved in the
paying, collecting, accounting, and
transferring of funds.
4 September 2003
The goal of the Federal Assistance
Program is to work with States to
conserve, protect, and enhance fish,
wildlife, their habitats and the hunting,
sportfishing, and recreational boating
opportunities they provide. The Federal
Assistance Program is responsible for
administering the following Programs:
n Wildlife Restoration
n Sport Fish Restoration
n Clean Vessel Act
n Boating Infrastructure Grant
n National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant
n Multistate Conservation Grant
n State Wildlife Grants
n Landowner Incentive
In addition, Federal Assistance provides
grant management support for
endangered species traditional section 6,
Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land
Acquisition, HCP Planning, and Recovery
Land Acquisition Grant Programs.
The following is an update on the
activities of the Federal Assistance
Program and these grant programs.
September 2003 5
Federal
Assistance
Program
Overview
Joint Federal/State Task Force on
Federal Assistance Policy
As reported in the Program Update
March 2003, the Joint Federal/State Task
Force on Federal Assistance Policy (JTF)
was created to provide a forum to
cooperatively identify Program issues of
national significance and to develop jointly
recommendations concerning those
issues. The JTF is composed of seven
State fish and wildlife agency and seven
Service personnel along with two lawyers
(one State and one Federal).
The first products of the JTF were
announced by the Director in a memo to
the Regions dated July 25, 2003. That
memo transmitted Director’s Orders Nos.
152 and 156 (see Appendix). Copies of
these Director’s Orders can also be
viewed and retrieved from the Service’s
Policy and Directives Management web
page located at http://policy.fws.gov/do.
html. Director’s Orders are listed in
numerical order on this web page.
Director’s Order No. 152 provides
guidance on allowable recreational
activities and related facilities on Federal
Assistance lands. Director’s Order No.
156 provides guidance for making budget
changes within a nonconstruction grant
funded under the Sport Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Programs. The JTF
distributed initial drafts of these
Director’s Orders to the Service Regions
and State fish and wildlife agencies for
comment this past winter. The draft
recommendations were then revised
taking into consideration comments
received. The final recommendations of
the JTF, along with a summary of the
comments, were then submitted to the
Director this spring. After reviewing the
recommendations of the JTF, the Director
adopted them in substantial form and
issued these policy statements as
Director’s Orders.
The most recent meeting of the JTF was
in Missoula, Montana, on August 5
through 7. At this meeting the JTF
reviewed comments received from the
Service Regions and State fish and
wildlife agencies on the following draft
policy statements:
1. Program Income from Federal
Assistance Grants;
2. Allowable Commercial Activities and
Related Facilities on Federal Assistance
Lands; and
3. Guidance for Conducting Endangered
Species Act Section 7 Consultations on
Federal Assistance Grants to States.
Recommendations of the JTF regarding
these three issues will next be forwarded
to the Director.
In addition to these topics, the JTF also
discussed:
1. Useful Life of Capital Improvements;
2. Cash Management Improvement Act;
3. Use of Sport Fish Restoration Funds
for Boating Access; and
4. Homeland Security.
The next meeting of the JTF will be held
in Madison, Wisconsin, in October 2003.
At this meeting, the issues of Cost
Accounting and Reporting, Useful Life,
Boating Access, and Homeland Security
will be further discussed.
For additional information on the JTF,
please contact Gary Reinitz.
6 September 2003
Focus on Specific
Programs and
Activities
Sport Fish Restoration Program
The Service will soon announce the
preliminary apportionments from the
Sport Fish Restoration Program for
Fiscal Year 2004. Final apportionments
will be issued in the spring of 2004 after
the total receipts into the Sport Fish
Restoration Account are calculated for
Fiscal Year 2003 and the status of other
Sport Fish Restoration programs is
determined for Fiscal Year 2004. Funding
authorization of several Sport Fish
Restoration programs expires at the end
of Fiscal Year 2003 unless Congress acts
to extend their authorization. These
programs include the Service’s National
Outreach and Communications Program,
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program
and Clean Vessel Act Program, as well as
the U.S. Coast Guard’s Recreational
Boating Safety Program.
If Congress does not reauthorize these
programs, the Sport Fish Restoration
Program and National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant Program will be the
primary programs funded from the Sport
Fish Restoration Account.
Recent Program highlights include the
selection of the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resource’s Baraboo River dam
removal and river restoration project as
the 2003 Sport Fishery Development and
Management Project of the Year by the
American Fisheries Society’s Fisheries
Administrators Section. The Section also
provided awards to the Mississippi
Department of Natural Resources and
the New Hampshire Fish and Game
Department for their fisheries research
and aquatic education efforts, respectively.
The total apportionment for Fiscal Year
2003 for the Sport Fish Restoration
Program was $265,241,214.
For more information on this issue, please
contact Brian Bohnsack.
September 2003 7
Sport Fish Restoration
Program Reauthorization Update
The American League of Anglers and
Boaters (ALAB) continues to lead efforts
for the reauthorization of Sport Fish
Restoration programs. ALAB, a large
consortium of conservation and recreation
agencies which includes groups such as
the American Sportfishing Association,
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies, National Association of
Boating Law Administrators, American
Recreation Coalition, and States
Organization for Boating Access, reached
a consensus position for reauthorization
of programs funded by the Sport Fish
Restoration Program earlier this year.
ALAB’s consensus position for
reauthorization will fundamentally change
the program funding process from the
Aquatic Resources Trust Fund. Under the
ALAB proposal, all of the programs
funded from the Aquatic Resources Trust
Fund and the accompanying Sport Fish
Restoration Account will be based on
preset percentages of the overall account.
Previously, several programs received
predetermined funding amounts.
Accordingly, funding for some programs
had risen considerably since the previous
reauthorization, while the funding level of
those programs with predetermined
appropriations remained stable.
In addition to seeking reauthorization of
all of the current programs funded by the
Sport Fish Restoration Program, ALAB’s
consensus proposal recommends 1) to
dissolve the Boating Safety Account,
2) to extend the Federal excise tax on
motorboat fuels and on small engine fuels,
3) to guarantee funding for the U.S. Coast
Guard’s Recreational Boating Safety
Program and to alter the required State
match for this program to the 75 percent
Federal share and 25 percent State share
that is currently used with other
programs funded by the Sport Fish
Restoration Program. ALAB is also
separately seeking full recovery of the tax
on recreational boating fuels. Some of the
existing taxes on recreational boating
fuels are currently being deposited into
other accounts.
In order to be passed by Congress,
ALAB’s reauthorization proposal will
have to be incorporated into the
SAFETEA Highway bill or other bills as
an amendment. Accordingly, ALAB is
currently seeking Congressional support
for their proposal and also Congressional
sponsors for the proposed amendment.
The current SAFETEA Highway bill
proposes “status quo” funding of the
programs funded by the Sport Fish
Restoration Program. At this time, it
appears that reauthorization of the
programs funded by the Sport Fish
Restoration Program is not likely to occur
until early 2004 at the earliest. Because
funding authorization for several
programs expires at the end of the Fiscal
Year 2003, ALAB and other groups are
working on stop gap measures to ensure
that these programs are funded at status
quo levels for Fiscal Year 2004. Programs
whose authorization funding authorization
expires at the end of Fiscal Year 2003
include the Service’s National Outreach
and Communications Program, Clean
Vessel Act Pumpout Grant Program,
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program,
and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Recreational
Boating Safety Program.
State Audits
The Service published six audit chapters
in the Federal Register for comment in
December 2001. Modifications were
incorporated into the Chapters in
November 2002 as recommended by the
Director’s Joint Federal/State Task Force
on Federal Assistance Second Audit
Cycle. Upon the completion of the
Service’s internal review process, the
chapters will be published in the Federal
Register. The final chapters will become
part of the Service’s Manual. The chapters
establish policy and responsibilities for
grantee audits, define terms associated
with audits, and provide an overview of
the audit process. In addition, they
establish policies and procedures for
audit objectives, planning, conducting,
reporting, resolution, and appeals. The
establishment of these policies and
procedures will enhance the ongoing
audit process.
Chapter 1 provides terms associated with
audits and an overview of the audit
process. Chapter 2 identifies the
programmatic and financial elements of
audits. Chapter 3 provides procedures for
conducting and reporting on audits of
Federal Assistance Program grantees.
Chapter 4 establishes policy and
procedures for resolving findings and
implementing recommendations. Included
in this chapter are time-lines of the audit
resolution process. Chapter 5 establishes
policy and procedures for appealing
Service determinations or corrective
actions. Chapter 6 establishes Service
policy for resolving findings and
implementing recommendations from
audits of Federal Assistance Program
grantees under the Single Audit Act. The
audit chapters will enhance the Service’s
ability to complete audits in a timely
manner.
For additional information on this issue,
please contact Pat McHugh.
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program
The funding status of the Boating
Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program for
Fiscal Year 2004 and beyond is not certain
at this time. Funding authorization for the
BIG Program expires at the end of Fiscal
Year 2003. The BIG Program needs to be
reauthorized by Congress in order to be
funded in future years. The American
League of Anglers and Boaters (ALAB)
supports reauthorization of the Program
and has lobbied Congress accordingly, as
well as for other Sport Fish Restoration
programs. Under the ALAB proposal, the
BIG Program will receive 1.9 percent of
the total receipts into the Sport Fish
Restoration Account. Based on estimates
of predicted receipts into this account,
funding for the BIG Program would
increase to approximately $10 million
annually.
The Service is hopeful that the BIG
Program will be reauthorized in time to
allow its Fiscal Year 2004 grant process to
occur as scheduled. To avoid delays with
project implementation, the Service has
requested proposals from States for the
BIG Program and proposals are due in to
the Service’s Regional Offices in late
September. Awards, if any, from the BIG
Program will be dependent upon its
authorization from Congress. A minimal
amount of funding may be available from
funds recovered from projects that were
awarded in previous years.
8 September 2003
The vessel Shirley J tries out the new docks at the St. Helens Courthouse docks in Oregon that were funded
with assistance from the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG). The Oregon State Marine Board
recently completed the first three Tier-2 Boating Infrastructure Grant Programs in the nation.
Photo: Oregon State Marine Board.
The Oregon State Marine Board recently
completed the first 3 of the Tier-2 BIG
projects in the nation on the Columbia
River system. Several States are now
completing Tier-1 level projects, including
those completed by the Missouri
Department of Conservation in the Ozark
River system.
For more information on this issue, please
contact Brian Bohnsack.
Federal Assistance Information
Management System (FAIMS)
FAIMS is critical to the reconciliation of
grant related fiscal information that exists
in systems operated by the Department of
Health and Human Services, the Division
of Federal Assistance, and the Division of
Finance. The checks and balances built
into FAIMS ensure the integrity of
Federal Assistance’s fiscal data as
confirmed by the audit firm KPMG.
In Fiscal Year 2004 Federal Assistance
Program emphasis for FAIMS will be
placed on:
n Interfacing FAIMS with the Federal
government’s new www.grants.gov web
site. The grants.gov site will provide
grant opportunity announcements and
electronic application capabilities to
grant applicants for all grant programs.
An interface will be developed through
which FAIMS will retrieve applications
submitted via the grants.gov web site.
n Consolidating the FAIMS databases.
Modifications required to combine the
eight physically separate FAIMS
databases into one will be completed
and the databases will be combined.
Combining the databases will reduce
operational overhead and reduce the
complexity of electronically interfacing
FAIMS with the grants.gov web site.
n Modernizing the interface between
FAIMS and the Payment Management
System (PMS). The FAIMS will be
modified to utilize a new “Drop Box”
interface methodology being developed
by the Department of Health and
Human Services. Implementation will
increase security and facilitate complete
automation of the data flows between
the two systems.
n Developing training methods and
materials for users of the iFAIMS web
site. The distributed nature of the user
community of the iFAIMS web site
requires development of new training
methods and materials for site users.
For more information on this issue, contact
Bill Conlin or Luther Zachary.
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting,
and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
The 2001 Survey was the 10th sponsored
by the Service since 1955. The Service has
conducted the Survey every five years at
the request of State fish and wildlife
agencies, and it has become one of the
Nation’s most important sources of
information on wildlife-related recreation.
In response to concerns from its
members, IAFWA is reviewing other
options for the funding and completion of
future national surveys. IAFWA will make
their recommendation for the 2006 survey
at their National Conference in
September 2003.
In March 1999, the Survey Grants-in-Aid
Subcommittee of the International
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
(IAFWA) recommended that the Service
conduct a survey in 200l. In June 1999,
the Service signed an agreement with
the Bureau of Census (Census) to collect
the information and produce the reports.
Service staff met with State technical
committee members and non-governmental
organizations to determine
survey content. Federal agencies and
other major survey users also provided
input.
In April and May 2001, Census conducted
the screening interviews. Census collected
information through computer-assisted
interviews conducted primarily by
telephone. They completed screening
interviews of over 52,000 households.
September 2003 9
These interviews identified samples of
30,000 sportsmen (anglers and hunters)
and 15,000 wildlife watchers (wildlife
feeders, observers, and photographers) for
the Survey’s detailed interview phase.
Census asked respondents about their
2001 activities and expenditures in three
detailed interview waves beginning in
April and September 2001 and in January
2002. Interviewers completed data
collection on February 28, 2002. The
response rate for the detailed data
collection phase was about 90 percent.
In 2001, 82 million U.S. residents, 39
percent of the population 16 years and
older, participated in some type of wildlife-related
recreation. Five million more
participated in 2001 than in 1996, the last
time the survey was conducted. Anglers,
hunters, and wildlife watchers spent $108
billion pursuing their activities. These
expenditures accounted for 1.1 percent of
the Nation’s total gross domestic product.
Of the sportsmen, 34 million fished and
13 million hunted. Sixty-six million
wildlife enthusiasts observed, fed or
photographed wildlife around their homes
or on trips in 2001.
A comparison of 2001 and 1996 estimates
shows a mixed picture. While total
participation in all wildlife-related
recreation increased, participation in
fishing declined by 3 percent and hunting
by 7 percent The decrease in hunting was
due to a decline in small game hunting and
other animal hunting (raccoon, groundhog,
etc.). Big game hunting and migratory
bird hunting held steady. Wildlife watching
increased by 5 percent from 1996 to 2001.
The Service began releasing preliminary
information in May 2002. The final
National Report and Quick Facts brochure
were issued in early October 2002, and the
State Reports were issued on a flow basis
beginning in January 2003. A CD-ROM
with all the survey data is available on
request. Copies of the reports are
available on request or are accessible
through the following web site:
http://federalaid.fws.gov/.
For more information on this issue, contact
Sylvia Cabrera.
New Survey Reports
The Service recently released the
following two reports on wildlife watching
in the U.S. and its benefits to the economy:
Birding in the United States, A
Demographic Economic Analysis, and
2001 National and State Economic
Impacts of Wildlife-Associated
Recreation. Both reports are based on
information from the 2001 National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife
Watching.
Birding in the United States reports
the popularity of bird watching, the
characteristics of birders, and the
economic importance of the activity.
Some highlights are as follows:
n In 2001 there were 46 million birders
(16 years of age and older) in the United
States –– a little over one in five people.
n The average birder tends to be middle-aged,
and has a higher than average
income and education. The vast majority
(94 percent) of birders identified
themselves as white although Native
Americans had participation rates
nearly equal to whites.
n Measured in terms of State residents
participating, Montana, Vermont, and
Wisconsin had the highest participation
rates. But when measured in terms of
sheer numbers, the highly populated
States of California, Pennsylvania,
Texas, and Florida had the most
birders.
n In one year (2001) birders spent $32
billion dollars on their hobby. This figure
includes: binoculars and gear; travel
costs and food; and big-ticket items such
as canoes, cabins and off-road vehicles
(ORVs).
This spending generated $85 billion in
overall economic output and created
863,406 jobs.
n Birders place a high value on their
activity. The report found that the net
economic value for birding (in State of
residence) is $257 per year and $35 per
day.
The Economic Impacts of Wildlife
Watching reports the effects of
expenditures for wildlife watching on
National and State economies. For
example, 66 million wildlife watchers
spent $38 billion on their equipment, trips,
and other items in 2001. If wildlife
watching were a company, its sales of
$38.4 billion would rank it 33rd in the
Forbes 500 list for 2001— placing it just
ahead of Motorola and Kmart.
Furthermore, those expenditures resulted
in a total industry output valued at $96
billion, over one million jobs, $28 billion in
employment income, and $6 billion in
Federal and State tax revenues.
What do wildlife watchers spend their
money on? In 2001, they spent 21 percent
for wildlife-watching trips, including
transportation, lodging, etc.; 61 percent
for equipment including items such as
cameras, bird food, campers, and tents;
and the balance; 17 percent, on magazines,
membership dues, and land leasing and
ownership.
State economies benefitted tremendously
from wildlife-watching expenditures.
Twelve States derived 1 percent or more
of their total economic gross product from
the impacts of those expenditures.
These two reports, as well as other survey
reports, may be accessed from the
following website http://federalaid.fws.
gov.
For additional information on these
reports, contact Sylvia Cabrera.
Section 10 Hunter Education Program
With the passage of the Wildlife and Sport
Fish Restoration Programs Improvement
Act of 2000, many State wildlife agencies
have enhanced their hunter education
programs to take advantage of the
additional funding this Act provided. The
Service has made an additional $23 million
of funds available for the hunter education
program since the passage of this Act.
Fiscal Year 2003 was the third year that
section 10 funding has been available.
As a result of their increased hunter
10 September 2003
education efforts, in Fiscal Year 2003, 24
State wildlife agencies were eligible to
receive additional reverted section 10 Funds
from other States not expending their
entire section 10 funds. These States
received portions of the $254,683 that was
reverted back from the States not spending
their entire initial section 10 allocation from
previous fiscal years.
Some notable successes of the section 10
funded projects to date include:
1) increased numbers of hunter education
classes being offered, 2) increased numbers
of State agency staff devoted to the hunter
education program, and 3) enhanced
services and support to volunteer hunter
education instructors.
The Act’s supporters designed the
legislation with incentives for States to
increase their hunter education program
expenditures. A preliminary analysis of
States’ hunter education program
expenditures by the Service suggests that
the legislation has been implemented as
intended. In Fiscal Year 2002, 22 States
were eligible to receive reverted Section 10
funds. By comparison, in Fiscal Year 2003,
24 States were eligible. Similarly, in Fiscal
Year 2002 $601,501 of section 10 funds were
reverted. By Fiscal Year 2003, the total
reverted section 10 funds was only $254,683.
For additional information, contact Joshua
Winchell.
Yellow-crowned night heron. Photo: USFWS
Economic Output* Wildlife Watchers
California $5,169,100,000 5,720,000
Florida $2,815,400,000 3,240,000
New York $2,625,300,000 3,887,000
Texas $2,455,900,000 3,240,000
Wisconsin $2,453,600,000 2,442,000
New Jersey $2,264,700,000 1,895,000
Pennsylvania $1,955,200,000 3,794,000
Washington $1,781,500,000 2,496,000
Maryland $1,772,900,000 1,524,000
North Carolina $1,593,900,000 2,168,000
*Total industry output which includes direct, indirect, and induced effects of wildlife-watching
expenditures.
The ten States whose wildlife-watching expenditure output ranked the highest were:
September 2003 11
National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant Program
The Service will announce the awards
recipients for the Fiscal Year 2004
National Coastal Wetlands Conservation
Grant Program (NCWCGP) in the coming
weeks. Thirty proposals from 13 States
requesting a total of $23.9 million in
Federal funding were received this year.
The Service estimates that a minimum of
$12.6 million will be available from this
program in Fiscal Year 2004.
This amount is likely to be substantially
more pending final determination of the
deposits into the Sport Fish Restoration
Account.
A national panel of personnel from several
Service divisions reviewed all of the
proposals received. The panel met for two
days in early August to rank proposals.
The panel has provided a list of projects
recommended for funding to the Director.
Since the inception of NCWCGP in 1990,
a total of $120 million has been awarded
to 25 States and 1 U.S. Territory. It is
estimated that 150,000 coastal wetlands
acres will have been protected or restored
since its inception.
For more information on this issue,
contact Brian Bohnsack.
Multistate Conservation
Grant Program
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration
Programs Improvement Act of 2000
(Improvement Act) established the
Multistate Conservation Grant Program
within the Sport Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Programs. The Improvement
Act authorizes grants of up to $3 million
annually from funds available under each
of the Programs, for a total of up to $6
million annually. Grants may be made
from a priority list of projects submitted
by the International Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA),
representing the State fish and wildlife
agencies.
To be eligible for consideration by the
IAFWA, a project must benefit fish and/or
wildlife conservation in at least 26 States,
a majority of the States in a Fish and
Wildlife Service Region, or a regional
association of State fish and wildlife
agencies. Grants may be made to a State
or group of States, to non-governmental
organizations, and, for the purpose of
carrying out the National Survey of
Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated
Recreation.
The priority list of projects submitted by
the IAFWA for funding in Fiscal Year
2003 included these 25 projects (see the
list on the next page) from which the
Division made grant awards beginning
February 1, 2003.
Representatives of the States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA), sewage pumpout manufacturers,
and staff from Underwriters Laboratories Incorporated (UL) inspect the sewage pumpout machines that
are being tested by UL. Funding for this SOBA project is being provided through the Multistate
Conservation Grant Program. Photo: Kevin Atkinson, California Department of Boating and Waterways.
Coastal wetlands, such as this one in Texas,
provide important habitat for many species of fish
and wildlife. Coastal wetlands also help to reduce
the destruction from tropical storms and
hurricanes. Photo: Beau Hardegree, USFWS
12 September 2003
Multistate Conservation Grants Proposals Awarded in Fiscal Year 2003
Project Title Recipient Wildlife Funds Sport Fish Funds
(in dollars) (in dollars)
Wildlife Values in the West Western Association of Fish & 223,961 223,961
Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA)
Step Outside National Shooting Sports Foundation 92,600 92,600
Becoming an Outdoors Woman University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 93,050 93,050
Women in the Outdoors National Wild Turkey Federation 77,500 77,500
The Trailblazer Adventure Program U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation 80,000 80,000
Automated Wildlife Data Systems IAFWA Automated Wildlife Data 81,840 81,840
Program Coordination Systems Task Force
Adaptive Outdoor Recreation Equipment Paralyzed Veterans of America 44,000 ..........
Measuring Public Opinion of Fish and Northeast Conservation Information 175,000 175,000
Wildlife Agencies in 13 Northeast States & Education Association
Continued Support for State “Hooked on Future Fisherman Foundation .......... 51,500
Fishing–Not on Drugs” Programs
The Northern Bobwhite Conservation SEAFWA and SC DNR 225,000 ..........
Initiative: Moving the Plan Forward
Chronic Wasting Disease Prevention and IAFWA Wildlife Health Task Force 357,500 ..........
Management Planning
Fish & Wildlife Reference Service: KRA Corporation 249,779 249,779
Managing and Providing Information to
State Agencies
Evaluation of the Fish and Wildlife Virginia Polytechnic Institute & 20,356 20,356
Reference Service State University
Data Management Support for the Chronic Virginia Polytechnic Institute & 92,154 ..........
Wasting Disease Initiative State University
Unwanted Aquatic Species: A Three-Year IAFWA Fisheries & Water Resources .......... 391,840
Project to Address State, Regional and Policy Committee
National Aquatic Invasive Species Issues
Conservation Communication Team IAFWA Education, Outreach & Diversity Committee 114,000 114,000
National 4-H Sportfishing Initiative Future Fisherman Foundation .......... 150,623
Creating Master Naturalist Programs Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 97,325 97,325
National Hunting Incident Clearinghouse International Hunter Education Association 66,800 ..........
Wildlife Law News Weekly Alert and Center for Wildlife Law at the University of 40,500 40,500
Online Services New Mexico Institute of Public Law
Management Assistance Team 2003-2004
IAFWA
Sage Grouse Data Management: Making WAFWA Sage Grouse and Columbian Sharp- 27,800 ..........
States’ Data Available to Conservation tailed Grouse Technical Committee
Planning Teams
Bird Conservation for the Nation: IAFWA Bird Conservation Committee 214,520 ..........
Support for State All-Bird Conservation Efforts
Assessing Ownership, Use and Modifications of IAFWA Furbearer Resources Task Force; 118,800 ..........
Trapping Systems, and Familiarity of Trapping BMPs Education, Outreach & Diversity Committee;
by Trappers in the United States and Wildlife Resources Policy Committee
Development of a Detailed National Conservation IAFWA National Grants Committee 68,970 68,970
Need for a National Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-
Associated Recreation Survey
Totals 2,969,727 2,417,116
Clean Vessel Act Pumpout
Grant Program
The funding status of the Clean Vessel Act
(CVA) Program for Fiscal Year 2004 and
beyond remains uncertain as of late
August. Funding authorization for the
CVA program expires at the end of Fiscal
Year 2003. The CVA program needs to be
reauthorized by Congress in order to be
funded in future years. The American
League of Anglers and Boaters (ALAB)
supports reauthorization of the Program
and has lobbied Congress for its
reauthorization, as well as other Sport
Fish Restoration funded programs. Under
the ALAB proposal, the CVA program
will receive 1.9 percent of the total
receipts into the Sport Fish Restoration
Account. Based on estimates of predicted
receipts into this account, funding for the
CVA program would remain similar to its
current level of $10 million annually.
A notable change is likely to occur with
the CVA program if Congress approves
the current ALAB reauthorization
proposal. The ALAB reauthorization
proposal recommends removing the
coastal project ranking preference that
was established in the original act.
Representatives from the States
Organization for Boating Access (SOBA)
and other boating organizations (e.g.,
National Marine Manufacturers
Associations [NMMA]) have expressed
concern about the need for additional
pumpout facilities in freshwater
environments because of national trends
of larger boats being used in inland
waters. These concerns are reflected in
ALAB’s proposal.
Additional changes to the CVA program
may result from administrative changes
that may occur in coming months. The
Service will seek input on program
guidelines regarding the grant awards
process. Some States have recommended
using a tiered funding approach similar to
that of the Boating Infrastructure Grant
(BIG) Program. Other States have
suggested an automatic allocation
approach similar to that of the Sport Fish
September 2003 13
Restoration Program, except using
criteria such as the number of registered
boats or water acreage within a State.
An additional issue that may be
reevaluated in coming months is updating
the pumpout fee guidance given in the
CVA program rules that were published
in 1999.
The Service remains hopeful that the
Program will be reauthorized in time to
allow the Fiscal Year 2004 CVA proposal
process to remain on its current schedule.
For,more information on this Program,
contact Brian Bohnsack.
State Wildlife Grants
President Bush signed the Department
of the Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2003, into law on
February 20, 2003. It included $60 million
in Fiscal Year 2003 for the State Wildlife
Grants (SWG) program, which is available
to States and Territories for obligation
until September 30, 2004. Fiscal Year 2002
SWG funds will be available for obligation
by the States only until September 30,
2003, after which we will reapportion any
remaining unobligated funds.
The Service designed the SWG program
to assist States by providing Federal
funds for the development and
implementation of programs that benefit
wildlife and their habitat, including
species that are not hunted or fished.
It permits both planning and
implementation activities. The Federal
share for planning grants may not exceed
75 percent and may not exceed 50 percent
for other types of grants. To establish
eligibility for these funds, the States and
Territories first had to submit or commit
to develop by October 1, 2005, a
Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation
Plan. All States and Territories have
made this commitment. Most States now
have active SWG projects being funded.
The Service, IAFWA, and the States co-sponsored
five Regional workshops this
spring in West Virginia, Washington,
Georgia, Wisconsin, and Utah which had
the objective of sharing information and
approaches to wildlife conservation
planning and fostering collaboration and
partnership in the development and
implementation of the Comprehensive
Wildlife Conservation Plans.
Subsequently, a collaborative Work
Group was formed by IAFWA, which
is continuing to develop further Plan
development guidance for the States and
their partners. Service staff are members
of this Work Group, along with State and
NGO representatives.
For additional information on this
Program, contact Tim Hess.
States have developed innovative techniques to provide services for recreational boaters through their
Clean Vessel Act grant programs. A local Connecticut marina’s sewage pumpout boat motors to a boat
waiting to have its waste removed. Photo: Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
14 September 2003
Grant Awards for the Landowner Incentive Program - Fiscal Year 2003
State Tier 1 Tier 2 Total
Alabama $0
Alaska $142,500 $1,500,000 $1,642,500
Arizona $180,000 $1,560,000 $1,740,000
Arkansas $158,512 $158,512
California $180,000 $1,560,000 $1,740,000
Colorado $1,740,000 $1,740,000
Connecticut $180,000 $180,000
Delaware $180,000 $180,000
District of Columbia $0
Florida $180,000 $840,000 $1,020,000
Georgia $180,000 $180,000
Hawaii $180,000 $1,551,750 $1,731,750
Idaho $180,000 $180,000
Illinois $0
Indiana $180,000 $180,000
Iowa $180,000 $900,000 $1,080,000
Kansas $0
Kentucky $180,000 $1,315,000 $1,495,000
Louisiana $0
Maine $180,000 $180,000
Maryland $180,000 $180,000
Massachusetts $180,000 $900,000 $1,080,000
Michigan $180,000 $1,351,718 $1,531,718
Minnesota $180,000 $1,334,542 $1,514,542
Mississippi $0
Missouri $180,000 $180,000
Montana $174,639 $1,315,000 $1,489,639
Nebraska $180,000 $1,560,000 $1,740,000
Nevada $180,000 $180,000
New Hampshire $180,000 $180,000
New Jersey $180,000 $180,000
New Mexico $180,000 $180,000
New York $180,000 $180,000
North Carolina $165,000 $165,000
North Dakota $180,000 $710,500 $890,500
Ohio $180,000 $180,000
Oklahoma $180,000 $1,315,000 $1,495,000
Oregon $180,000 $1,533,900 $1,713,900
Pennsylvania $180,000 $1,315,000 $1,495,000
Rhode Island $0
South Carolina $75,000 $900,000 $975,000
South Dakota $0
Tennessee $180,000 $180,000
Texas $1,465,000 $1,465,000
Utah $0
Vermont $180,000 $180,000
Virginia $178,593 $1,555,500 $1,734,093
Washington $180,000 $1,560,000 $1,740,000
West Virginia $180,000 $180,000
Wisconsin $180,000 $180,000
Wyoming $180,000 $180,000
Puerto Rico $0
Guam $0
Virgin Islands $0
American Samoa $0
Northern Mariana Islands $0
Total $6,849,244 $27,947,910 $34,797,154
September 2003 15
Landowner Incentive Program
Congress funded the Landowner
Incentive Program (LIP), authorized in
the Department of the Interior and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2002, with $40 million derived from the
Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The same appropriations Act, in 2003,
rescinded $40 million from the Fiscal Year
2002 Landowner Incentive Program, but
provided the same amount in Fiscal Year
2003. The Fiscal Year 2003 fund awards
were made based on the existing 84
program applications. This program
provides competitive matching grants to
States, Territories, the District of
Columbia, and Tribes. The Service
allocated $4 million to Tribes, $34.8 million
to the States and Territories, and $1.2
million for administrative costs in Fiscal
Year 2003 and plans to allocate any Fiscal
Year 2004 funds in a similar manner. The
grants are to establish or supplement
landowner incentive programs that
provide technical and financial assistance
to private landowners for projects that
protect and restore habitats of listed
species or species determined to be at-risk.
LIP projects involve activities such
as the restoration of marginal farmlands
to wetlands, the removal of exotic plants
to restore natural prairies, a change in
grazing practices and fencing to enhance
important riparian habitats, instream
structural improvements to benefit
aquatic species, road closures to protect
habitats and reduce harassment of
wildlife, and conservation easements. The
Service requires a minimum 25 percent
non-Federal share of project costs.
The Program features two levels of
funding, Tier-1 and Tier-2. Proposals can
be submitted for either Tier-1 or Tier-2
competition (or both), with a maximum
amount awarded to any individual State
not to exceed 5 percent of the total funds
available. Tier-1 grants (capped at
$180,000 per State and $75,000 for D.C.
and the Territories) are intended to
provide a base for States to fund staff and
associated costs necessary to develop a
new or enhance an existing landowner
incentive program. Tier-2 grants are
intended to ‘implement’ State landowner
incentive programs by providing technical
or financial assistance to private
landowners through a variety of means
to support on-the-ground projects.
On February 25, 2003, the Director
announced $34.8 million from the Fiscal
Year 2003 budget had been awarded to
42 of the 47 States that had submitted
project proposals. As of August 14, 2003,
23 of these 42 States have obligated funds
through one or more grant agreements.
On August 15, 2003, the Service published
a notice and a 60-day Request for
Proposals in the Federal Register in
anticipation of a Fiscal Year 2004
appropriation for this Program.
Implementation and proposal submission
guidelines are nearly identical to those
used to solicit proposals for and award
Fiscal Year 2003 funds to States and
Territories. The Director will announce
award decisions after Fiscal Year 2004
funds are authorized.
The Service continues to work with the
States and other Federal agencies to
streamline the program as much as
possible, and to work with other Federal
wildlife conservation impacting programs,
such as those supported by the Farm Bill,
to ensure complementary implementation
of wildlife conservation actions to the
extent possible.
For more information on this Program,
contact Tim Hess or Kim Galvan.
California gnatcatcher habitat encroachment, southern California. Photo: Claire Dobert/USFWS
Federal Assistance National
Training Program
The National Federal Assistance Training
Program functions as part of the
Washington Office of Federal Assistance,
although the staff is located at the
National Conservation Training Center in
Shepherdstown, WV. The training
program develops and delivers grants
management training for Federal
Assistance staff and State fish and wildlife
agency grantees. These training courses
increase the knowledge, skills and abilities
of State and Federal personnel who
manage Federal Assistance grants. This
training helps to ensure that Federal
Assistance grant managers consistently
apply the laws, rules, and policies that
govern Federal Assistance Program
administration.
Since 1996, more than 900 State and
Federal Assistance staff have received
training through courses developed by, or
offered in cooperation with, the Federal
Assistance Training Program. The
majority of those trained have completed
the Basic Grants Management Course
(348 graduates) and the Project Leaders
Course (420 graduates). Additional
courses conducted include: Federal
Assistance Audit Training for Auditors,
Boating Facilities Grant Workshop, Audit
Training Workshop for State Federal
Assistance Coordinators, and Group
Systems Leader (Electronic Meeting
Facilitator) Training.
Currently, Basic Grants Management
Courses are scheduled at least once each
year. Interest and demand for the State
specific Federal Assistance Project
Leaders Course continues to grow. Eight
Project Leaders Courses were completed
through July in Fiscal Year 2003.
Additional Project Leaders Courses are
planned through April 2004. Federal
Assistance Audit Training Workshops for
State grantees will be conducted by the
end of December 2003 for the two Regions
that have yet to hold their annual
coordinators’ workshop.
The GroupSystems (Electronic Meeting)
Leaders Course was piloted in July 2003.
Using computer technology and the
Internet offers the Federal Assistance
Division a way to increase meeting
productivity, decrease meeting costs, and
increase the number of partners involved
in decision-making.
Two additional courses are currently
under development:
n Fiscal Management of Federal
Assistance Grants
n Compliance Issues
Course descriptions, an on-line
application, training materials, and grant
manager’s resources are available on
Federal Assistance’s Training Program
web site at: http://training.fws.gov/fedaid/.
For additional information on this issue,
contact Steve Leggans at the National
Conservation Training Center at
304/876 7927.
16 September 2003
Approximately 350 individuals have taken the Basic Grants Management Course offered by the National Federal Assistance Training Program.
Photo: National Federal Assistance Training Program.
September 2003 17
Appendix All information and tables previously
found in the appendices in earlier
Program Updates are now on the Federal
Assistance homepage at:
http://federalaid.fws.gov/.
18 September 2003
September 2003 19
20 September 2003
September 2003 21
22 September 2003
September 2003 23
Special Highlight
Section of Region 3
Many areas of the country are using best
management practices to address a
variety of water quality issues on
waterways. Illinois has begun several
watershed management projects over the
past several years, including identifying
the highest priority watersheds in the
State for best management practices,
based on the habitat value of streams
draining the watershed. The Governor’s
Office has played a major role in
establishing the best management
practice programs in priority watersheds.
Now, a unique study funded through the
Sport Fish Restoration program will
evaluate the impacts and effectiveness of
best management practices on a
watershed scale and over the long-term.
The Illinois watershed study is designed
to examine the effects of good watershed
management on the habitat quality of
their streams over the long-term, and
produce quantitative data to clearly
illustrate the extent of impact that best
management practices can have. The
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
is encouraging the broader use of best
management practices by showing
farmers, policy makers, and citizens the
benefits gained from using these
techniques in watersheds.
24 September 2003
Best Management Practices Evaluated in
Illinois using Sport Fish Restoration funds
Northeastern Illinois Wetland
Protection Project
Illinois is known as the prairie State but,
historically, it also contained extensive
wetlands. Most of those wetlands have
been destroyed by developments. The
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) received Federal assistance to
purchase acreage within Black-Crown
Marsh, a unique wetland in northeastern
Illinois. The Service’s Washington D.C.
Office of Endangered Species selected the
proposal for funding. Grant compliance
and fiscal management are administered
by the Division of Federal Assistance.
Northeastern Illinois once contained a
mosaic of prairie and marsh with
scattered occurrences of bogs and fens, a
result of glacial activity. A large portion of
that landscape was modified by
agricultural development, as well as
growth of Chicago and the metropolitan
area. As the human population continues
to grow, by almost ten percent annually,
pressure continues to convert natural
landscapes to urban settings.
To preserve wetlands, a partnership,
called the Northeastern Illinois Wetland
Protection Project, was initiated and
consists of various organizations,
including the Illinois DNR. Black-Crown
Marsh is one of those important
remaining areas, and is listed in the
Illinois Natural Areas Inventory.
Dominated by palustrine emergent
wetland with hemi-marsh and scrub-shrub
habitats, it provides refuge for a
diversity and abundance of wetland-dependant
birds. They include State-listed
threatened and endangered species
such as the black tern, common moorhen,
least bittern, pied-billed grebe, sandhill
crane, black-crowned night-heron, and
yellow-headed blackbird. The Service
included the area in the North American
Waterfowl Management Plan for the
Upper Mississippi River. It is also
included in the Great Lakes Region Joint
Venture as a Focus Area for northeastern
Illinois due to its size, location and the
important role it plays in the production
of, and migration habitat for, waterfowl
and wetland-dependant birds. The
Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity
Recovery Plan considers the site part of
the most important wetland complex in
the Chicago area.
The Illinois DNR received financial
assistance through the nationally
competitive State Wildlife Grant Program
to purchase an important parcel in Black-
Crown Marsh. The Federal award of
$760,000 of SWG funding is leveraged
with non-Federal cash and in-kind
contributions –– worth $2,131,000 –– from
the Illinois DNR and its partners. The
non-Federal contribution also includes
wetlands management and purchase of
other wetlands acreage. Acquisition of the
selected acreage will ensure that its
values to wildlife are protected along with
the opportunity for the public to enjoy
these resources.
Illinois
One of the most popular attractions at the
Indiana State Fair has a great new look.
The 40-year-old fish display maintained
by the Indiana Department of Natural
Resources’ (DNR) Division of Fish and
Wildlife, has been renovated to be more
interactive. Activities, videos, and a wealth
of information have been incorporated
into the new design. The fish tanks now
highlight the State’s aquatic habitat from
Lake Michigan to farm ponds to the Ohio
River. The tanks now provide an
ecosystem approach to viewing aquatic
species found in the Hoosier State. In
addition, lighting, air-conditioning, air
movement, and humidity controls were
added using creative designs which gives
you the feeling of waves and water. These
improvements were funded under
Indiana’s aquatic education grant using
Sport Fish Restoration funds.
Every aspect of their project was
designed to be accessible to persons with
disabilities —from the multi-media
presentations to the building’s new
restrooms. Some difficult adaptations
were encountered due to the century-old
building’s historic significance. However,
perseverance and ingenuity prevailed and
the results speak for themselves—aquatic
education available for everyone.
Many more Indiana citizens can view and
better understand the types of aquatic
systems found in Indiana due to the
partnership between the Service and the
Indiana DNR, Division of Fish and
Wildlife.
September 2003 25
Aquatic Education Grant Gives Up-Close
Look at Fish at Indiana State Fair
Indiana State Fair exhibition. Photo: Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Indiana
Boaters who use the Mississippi River at
Clinton, Iowa, will soon enjoy improved
access and facilities thanks to grants
under the Boating Infrastructure Grant
(BIG) Program.
Through two grants that total more than
$1.9 million, along with additional
matching funds, the city of Clinton plans
to construct new and renovate existing
boating access facilities on the Mississippi
River. The improvements will provide
access for larger transient recreation
boats. Among improvements planned for
the Clinton facility are 50 transient boat
slips, security lighting, navigational aids,
fuel pumps, a sewage pump system,
showers, laundry, access walks, and other
upgrades. These projects will help meet a
growing demand for recreational facilities
by boaters, as well as better accessibility
for disabled users and improved safety for
those who use the new facilities.
BIG Program projects, such as those
underway in Clinton, allow more people
to enjoy the Mississippi River and take
advantage of the many recreational,
historical, natural, cultural, and scenic
resources that are part of this National
Scenic Byway.
26 September 2003
BIG Program Brings Boating
Opportunities to Iowa
Federal Assistance Programs Helps Iowa
Acquire Important Bird Conservation Areas
Greater prairie chicken. Photo: Iowa Department
of Natural Resources.
Iowa’s Bird Conservation Area (BCA)
Program is part of a recent exciting
continental initiative that resulted from a
growing concern for the decline of a large
number of North American bird species.
A very important aspect that helps
enhance the functionality of the Iowa BCA
Program has been helped by the infusion
of Federal Assistance dollars in the form
of grants from the Wildlife Conservation
and Restoration Program (WCRP) and
State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program.
In 2001, the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) designated its first
BCA (also the first grassland BCA in the
U.S.), the Kellerton Grasslands BCA in
Ringgold County. The greater prairie-chicken
serves as the umbrella species for
this BCA, and by managing for prairie
chickens, a host of grassland birds will
benefit, such as Henslow’s sparrow,
bobolink, dickcissel, short-eared owl, and
northern harrier. Three additional BCA’s
now have been dedicated, including
Spring Run Grasslands (Dickinson
County), Broken Kettle Grasslands
(Plymouth County), and Effigy Mounds-
Yellow River Forest (Allamakee and
Clayton Counties). These four BCAs
comprise roughly a total 184,000 acres
that have been targeted as high priority
areas for bird conservation. Two more
BCAs are targeted for designation in
2003, and six more areas will be
designated in the near future.
Federal Assistance funds, through Iowa’s
Statewide Land Acquisition Program
grant, have allowed the Iowa DNR to
purchase several key land additions to
existing or future BCAs. For example, the
240-acre Tauke addition to the Kellerton
Grasslands BCA was largely purchased
with WCRP funds and is critical habitat
for the survival of Iowa’s prairie chickens.
As of July 2003, over $500,000 of WCRP
and SWG Program funds have been
approved by the Service through the
current one-year grant agreement period
to acquire these State BCAs and other
important habitat for grassland birds and
neo-tropical migrants. In this era of tight
budgets and little money for land
acquisition, Federal Assistance Programs
have taken on major importance by
providing rare dollars for rare bird
species habitat protection.
Iowa
Nearly one-third of all recreational fishing
in Michigan depends on stocked fish,
including most of the trout and salmon
fisheries in the Great Lakes. Michigan’s
six hatcheries, funded in part with Sport
Fish Restoration funds, produce 750,000
pounds of fish each year to support the
demand for sportfishing opportunities.
Fish production and stocking are
important tools in maintaining and
enhancing the State’s sportfishing
opportunities. By creating a diversity of
fish populations through stocking,
managers can create a more stable fishery
and one that provides more opportunities
for recreational fishing. A good example is
Lake Michigan’s fishery, once dominated
by Chinook salmon. Today, anglers catch
five salmonid species, along with yellow
perch and walleye.
Fish produced in hatcheries can be
marked and easily monitored after
release, giving managers a clearer picture
of how these fish affect the ecosystem into
which they are introduced, as well as
impacts on other fish and on existing gene
pools in the system. By employing
separate regulations for marked and
unmarked fish, managers can manipulate
resources in new ways that recognize the
importance of wild fish and self-sustaining
populations.
Hatcheries give fisheries managers a
range of options to provide desirable
game fish in waters once dominated by
species with little or no value to sport
anglers or to the ecosystem. Michigan’s
fish production and stocking program
expends about $7 million a year ––
including $5.5 million in Federal funds. In
a State where the sportfishing industry
amounts to $2.2 billion a year, benefits of
fish production and stocking clearly
outweigh costs.
September 2003 27
Funding of Michigan’s Hatcheries
Support Sportfishing
Wildlife Restoration Funding Supports
Gray Wolf Research in Michigan’s Upper
Peninsula
Gray wolf. Photo: USFWS
As gray wolves, listed as Federally
threatened species in the Great Lakes
area move toward recovery, it is essential
that wildlife managers have accurate
information about the species’ population
and status. Since 1998 the Wildlife
Restoration Program has provided
funding to assist the State of Michigan’s
efforts to evaluate the State’s population
of gray wolves.
With annual funding of $250,000
Michigan’s Department of Natural
Resources conducts a wide range of
activities to study the State’s gray wolves
with the aim of refining population
estimate techniques. Efforts include
radio-telemetry of wolf packs, track
counts, collection and analysis of historical
observation data, and database
maintenance.
The goal of the research is to provide the
best scientific estimate of population size
and trends of gray wolves in Michigan and
to gain understanding of wolf ecology to
support wolf recovery efforts and long-term
maintenance of the population. In
addition, the research will provide data on
wolf habitat needs as well as impacts of
the wolf population on the State’s white-tailed
deer herd. Data will be used to
evaluate the performance of management
activities that are designed to meet the
goals of both the Federal and State gray
wolf recovery plans, and to document the
eventual recovery and post-delisting
health of the species in Michigan and the
Great Lakes area.
It is expected that the gray wolf
population study in Michigan will continue
at least until 2007. The total cost is
estimated at $1.7 million, with more
than $1.3 million coming from Wildlife
Restoration or State Wildlife Grant funds.
Michigan
Chinook salmon. Photo: J. Keller/USFWS
Known as the land of 10,000 lakes,
Minnesota is famous for water-related
recreation. But, development on
Minnesota lakes has resulted with a
continuing loss of natural resources,
including wildlife habitats. The Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
received Federal assistance from the State
Wildlife Grant Program to expand its
programs of maintaining and restoring
wildlife habitats on lakes throughout the
State. Selection of the proposal for
funding was made by the Washington
Office of Endangered Species. Compliance
and fiscal management are administered
by Federal Assistance.
Minnesota lakes provide colorful vistas
and wildlife that attract people who enjoy
fishing, wildlife viewing, canoeing, hunting
and other activities. Besides these
avocations, people also frequent lakes for
weekend cabins, and second or retirement
homes. Increasingly, these developments
impact the same features which lure
people to lakes. In particular, natural
shoreland vegetation has been removed to
accommodate boat docks, swimming
areas, uninterrupted views of clear, blue
water and other reasons. Contrarily,
people want to retain the visual appeals of
the same vegetation that is removed.
These conflicting attitudes create a
complex management problem for
agencies such as the Minnesota DNR.
To address continuous loss of shoreland
habitats, the Minnesota DNR developed
Statewide programs which partner with
individuals, private groups, and
communities to maintain and restore this
thin boundary of lakeside vegetation. To
increase funding for the programs, the
Minnesota DNR entered into a national
competition for financial assistance from
the State Wildlife Grant Program and
received an award of $534,000. Those
dollars are leveraged with $2,300,000 of
non-Federal matching funds. The project
consists of a comprehensive approach to
address loss of shoreland habitats. It
includes collecting baseline information
about lakes, their watersheds and status
of shoreland vegetation; collecting and
understanding public attitudes about how
lakeshore owners manage their property
and what practices they use; conducting
workshops for lakeshore owners;
increasing availability of plants used to
restore shoreland habitats; training
resource professionals in lakeshore
restoration; improving techniques for
controlling exotics such as common carp
and purple loosestrife; and providing
technical and financial assistance to
local groups and agencies to support
restoration of lakeshore habitats.
This financial support for the Minnesota
DNR program continues through June
2007. It will support the public/private
partnerships to maintain and restore
shoreland habitats for wildlife.
28 September 2003
State Wildlife Grant Enhances
Management of Lake Shorelands for
Wildlife Conservation
Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently received funding from the State Wildlife Grant Program that will be used to enhance the management of
lake shorelines for wildlife conservation. Photo: Mike Sweet/USFWS
Generations of wildlife enthusiasts have
enjoyed the benefits of Minnesota’s
extensive system of Wildlife Management
Areas (WMA). Since 1951 when
Minnesota began its “Save the Wetlands”
program, wetlands and other habitats
have been acquired in order to conserve
them. Initiated by a handful of visionary
wildlife managers and supported by
hunters, trappers, wildlife enthusiasts,
and legislators, the system has evolved to
include 878,000 acres of land.
Managed by the Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife,
this WMA system is one of the best and
largest in the country. There are 1,355
wildlife management areas in 86 of
Minnesota’s 87 counties. Habitats
protected by the system include wetlands,
prairie, woodlands, brush lands, and other
lands vital to wildlife. They are also
important contributors to Minnesota’s
economy — hunting and wildlife watching
are a billion dollar industry in the State.
Most of these wildlife management areas
were acquired using funding from the
Wildlife Restoration Program through
Minnesota’s Statewide Wildlife Land
Acquisition Grant. More than a million
dollars of Federal Assistance funds have
been approved through this grant to
continue to acquire land within the next
2-year grant agreement period. The State
also utilizes their Wildlife Restoration
funds to develop and manage WMAs,
which provides hunting opportunities and
other wildlife-dependent recreation.
September 2003 29
Minnesota Acquires Wildlife Management
Areas through the Wildlife Restoration
Program
Minnesota
Photo: USFWS
Missouri’s fishery management
capabilities received a boost in October
2000 with the construction of the Lost
Valley Fish Hatchery, a project funded in
part with $16.2 million in Federal funding
through the Sport Fish Restoration
Program. This 970-acre hatchery facility,
15 years in the making, represents the
largest single Sport Fish Restoration
capital improvement project in the
Program���s history. This project received
the American Fisheries Society’s
Fisheries Administrator’s Section Wallop-
Breaux Project of the Year Award in 2002.
Lost Valley Fish Hatchery features an
18,000-square-foot fish production room,
78 fish production ponds, seven water
supply wells, and 15 miles of piping
capable of delivering 3,5000 gallons of
water per minute. State-of-the-art
technology allows electronic monitoring of
water temperature, pH, and oxygen
levels. A special solar collecting pond
produces inexpensive warm water for
controlling temperatures in rearing ponds
and in the hatchery building. The
hatchery produces over 4 million
warmwater and coolwater fish, including
largemouth bass, walleye, muskellunge,
catfish, paddlefish, bluegill and hybrid
sunfish.
In Lost Valley Hatchery, the Missouri
Department of Conservation has been
able to consolidate operations in a single
centrally located facility, allowing closure
of two older, less efficient hatcheries. With
the opening of the hatchery, the
department is less dependent on private
fish growers, resulting in better disease
control and genetic management of fish
stocks, as well as greater flexibility in
meeting stocking needs.
Visitors to the hatchery, located near
Truman Lake and the town of Warsaw,
can learn about fish identification,
fisheries management, fishing in Missouri,
and the Sport Fish Restoration Program
through interactive interpretive exhibits.
They also get an up-close look at native
Missouri fish in a 13,000-gallon aquarium.
30 September 2003
Sport Fish Restoration Grant Boosts
Lost Valley Hatchery and Fisheries
Management in Missouri
Missouri
Lost Valley Hatchery Complex. Photo: Missouri
Department of Conservation.
Lost Valley Hatchery Aquarium. Photo: Missouri
Department of Conservation.
Boaters are now able to enjoy more of
Missouri’s many recreational and natural
resources thanks to the Boating
Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program, a
program that provides Federal funding
to improve boating for non-trailerable
recreational boats (those that are 26 feet
or longer). For the past two years, the
Missouri Department of Conservation
has been awarded BIG grants totaling
$385,700 to improve access and other
facilities for these boaters.
Money from the grant program has
funded a variety of projects, including
installation of transient docks, day docks,
fuel docks, sewage pumpouts, restrooms
and other boating related facilities. These
projects are being carried out at a number
of locations throughout the State. Seven
projects are already complete at four
marinas at Lake of the Woods, Table Rock
Lake, and on the Missouri River. Three
additional sites on the Missouri and Osage
rivers have projects currently underway.
Funds for the BIG Program are provided
through the Sport Fish Restoration
Account.
September 2003 31
BIG Program Improves Boating Access
on Missouri Waterways
Missouri
The Ohio Division of Wildlife (DW) is
using a $1 million grant from the National
Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant
Program to purchase and protect 280
acres of restorable coastal wetlands on
Lake Erie. The land lies adjacent to the
2,800-acre Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area
on Sandusky Bay, an extremely important
area for migratory birds.
The Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area lies at
the center of the best coastal wetland
habitat remaining on Sandusky Bay.
Unfortunately, this habitat is declining,
while importance of the area to migratory
birds is high and continues to grow. Ohio’s
coastal marshes and Sandusky Bay
support a dramatically growing number of
spring-migration, neotropical migratory
birds. The area is also the most important
migration staging area for black ducks on
the North American continent.
Acquisition and restoration efforts
through this project will also enhance
habitat for many native wetland species
which are listed as Federal or State
endangered or threatened species.
Looking to the future, the Ohio DW has
proposed a follow-up National Coastal
Wetlands Conservation Program grant.
This would enable the State to take on a
more comprehensive, longer-term effort
to protect and enhance the remaining
coastal wetland habitat of Sandusky Bay.
32 September 2003
Wildlife Restoration Program Brings
Environmental Education to Ohio Schools
and Parks
Coastal Wetland Grant Enhances Ohio’s
Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area
Federal funding is bringing the world of
wildlife and science closer to Ohio
residents, thanks to some innovative
partnering by the Ohio Division of
Wildlife (DW) and funding from the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. More than
50,000 Ohio middle schoolers are getting a
chance for some hands-on learning
through a program sponsored by the Ohio
DW and funded in part through the
Wildlife Restoration Program. In
partnership with the Center of Science
and Industry (COSI), the “COSI on
Wheels” project brings the wildlife
conservation message directly to children.
The learning program was developed by
COSI and the Ohio DW to focus on the
process of discovery, with emphasis on
inquiry and hands-on science projects.
The program provides kids with pre-visit
activities and materials, as well as post-visit
information to reinforce key
concepts.
Visitors to Ohio’s State parks will continue
to enjoy the benefits of the parks’
excellent naturalist program, despite
State budget shortfalls. Grants totaling
$250,000 through the Ohio DW are
helping keep the State Park Naturalist
Program viable, with increased emphasis
on wildlife biology and management.
The Ohio DW receives approximately
$4.8 million annually from the Wildlife
Restoration Program for its
Comprehensive Management System,
which is based on a Statewide strategic
wildlife plan and focuses on helping Ohio
citizens conserve their wildlife resources.
Ohio
Photo: USFWS
September 2003 33
Wildlife Restoration Funds Support
Wisconsin Efforts to Understand Chronic
Wasting Disease
Wildlife Restoration funds are supporting
efforts in Wisconsin to study chronic
wasting disease (CWD), a nervous system
disease that affects deer and elk. First
observed in 1967 in northern Colorado,
CWD was subsequently detected in other
western States and Canadian provinces in
2001. By 2002, CWD was found in deer in
Wisconsin, New Mexico, Illinois, and
Minnesota.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources (DNR), supported by nearly
$1.5 million in Wildlife Restoration funds,
has launched a wide range of activities to
learn more about the disease. Activities
include surveillance, disease monitoring,
surveys and research.
An important highlight of these ongoing
activities in Wisconsin is a research study
funded by the Wildlife Restoration
Program that examines the relationships
of deer ecology, disease ecology, and
hunter behavior to manage CWD. During
the study, the Wisconsin DNR will collect
information to help researchers
understand relationships between CWD
and deer population dynamics, deer
movement, and behavior. The study will
also focus on the extent of the disease,
how the disease is transmitted and how
quickly it spreads, and the effectiveness of
their CWD management program. An
important part of the study is an
examination of human risk factors and
attitudes of hunters, landowners, and the
general public toward the disease.
Findings from the study will significantly
increase the information available about
CWD, thereby enhancing efforts to
manage the disease.
Wisconsin
Photo: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
34 September 2003
A portion of Wisconsin’s Baraboo River
has been transformed from a series of
sluggish mill ponds to a free-flowing
waterway, thanks to an ambitious project
that included removal of four dams along
the river. Funded in part with Sport Fish
Restoration monies and encompassing
120 river miles, the $1.8 million project
represents the most miles of river to be
restored in Wisconsin and is one of the
biggest river restoration projects in the
nation.
Removal of the dams — three of them
located in Baraboo, about 40 miles from
Madison — resulted in the longest
contiguous riffle complex in the Baraboo
River drainage. Following dam removal,
the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources restored and enhanced sport
fish riverine habitat, as well as habitat for
other aquatic species, and began a long-term
evaluation of both habitat and
aquatic species recovery patterns.
As might be expected, a project of this
magnitude included forging extensive
partnerships to support financial and
administrative goals. Partners ranged
from special interest groups and
foundations to State and Federal
agencies. As an example, the City of
Baraboo integrated the project into the
city’s long-term downtown redevelopment
plans. Baraboo has also developed a river
walkway as a community focal point.
Initial information from evaluation efforts
shows rapid improvement in the river’s
fishery, reflected in fish migration
patterns, fish community health, and
distribution patterns. The project has
resulted in an improved sport fishery, and
enhanced recreation opportunities on the
river. For example, canoeists can now
travel the entire 120 miles of navigable
waters, something not possible in nearly
150 years.
The Fisheries Administrator’s Section of
the American Fisheries Society recently
awarded this project its 2003 Sport
Fishery and Development Project of the
Year Award.
Sport Fish Restoration Funds Dam Removal
on Wisconsin’s Baraboo River
Wisconsin
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Division of Federal Aid
http://www.fws.gov